ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Byways

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many byways claims have been made by (a) the Trail Riders Federation, (b) motorway groups and (c) the Land Access and Recreation Association since December 2003.

Jim Knight: We do not have the particular data that you specify. This information is held by local highway authorities and could be gathered only at a disproportionate cost. I will write to you with information on the number of applications for byways open to all traffic.

Coastal Defence (Nuclear Power Plants)

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what coastal defence work (a) has recently been, (b) is being and (c) is planned to be undertaken as a result of the proximity of nuclear power plants.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The following coastal defence work is taking place, or is proposed, in the proximity of nuclear power plants:
	At Berkeley, Gloucestershire, a proposed sea wall repair will provide erosion protection for 25 years.
	At Dungeness, Kent, a beach feeding programme is routinely undertaken to protect the foreshore and is likely to be maintained until at least 2018 (when generation at Dungeness B is expected to end). Long-term management options for the area adjacent to the power stations is under consideration.
	At Hartlepool, a proposal to extend a marine recycling facility navigation channel may require that the coastal defences of the power station be reinforced. Discussions with the developer are under way.
	At Sizewell B, Suffolk, the frontage of the adjacent Minsmere Bird Reserve is not secure and long-term management options are being considered.

Dairy Processing

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the competitive position of the dairy processing industry in each EU member state.

Jim Knight: My noble Friend, the Lord Bach, announced in September 2005 that the Dairy Supply Chain Forum would fund a study benchmarking the technical efficiency of our farmers and of our processing plants against a number of their EU and international counterparts. The work is due to start shortly.

Departmental Expenditure

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by her Department on refreshments in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally, the total value of expenditure by core-DEFRA on catering contracts in financial year 2004–05 was £281,413; on hospitality was £370,544; and on conference facilities was £1,105,762. The expenditure figures for catering contracts, hospitality and conference facilities for the first six months of financial year 2005–06 are £494,864, £208,394 and £354,162 respectively. The specific costs of working breakfasts or lunches, official entertainment and refreshments at meetings or conferences could be provided only at disproportionate cost. All expenditure on official entertainment is made in accordance with the principles set out in Government Accounting.

Identity Fraud

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what training her Department has provided for (a) front desk and (b) administrative staff in relation to identity fraud.

Jim Knight: Guidance on identity verification is available to staff via our intranet. The Department carries out identity checks on all recruits including casuals, consultants and agency temps and also on contractors working in our London buildings. Training is given to staff carrying out these identity checks.

National Parks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been allocated to each national park for each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: Defra has provided the following National Park Grants (figures prior to 2000–01 are estimates):
	
		
			 Authority £ 
		
		
			 Broads Authority  
			 1996–97 2,133,333 
			 1997–98 2,070,667 
			 1998–99 2,000,000 
			 1999–2000 2,224,000 
			 2000–01 2,212,000 
			 2001–02 2,411,261 
			 2002–03 2,801,437 
			 2003–04 3,196,877 
			 2004–05 3,065,680 
			 2005–06 3,933,182 
			   
			 Dartmoor National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 2,433,333 
			 1997–98 2,789,333 
			 1998–99 2,589,333 
			 1999–2000 2,858,667 
			 2000–01 2,863,000 
			 2001–02 3,127,480 
			 2002–03 3,721,705 
			 2003–04 4,177,323 
			 2004–05 3,965,325 
			 2005–06 4,308,058 
			 Exmoor National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 2,032,000 
			 1997–98 2,224,000 
			 1998–99 2,142,667 
			 1999–2000 2,377,333 
			 2000–01 2,369,000 
			 2001–02 2,582,842 
			 2002–03 3,059,765 
			 2003–04 3,518,950 
			 2004–05 3,290,756 
			 2005–06 3,616,422 
			   
			 Lake District National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 3,700,000 
			 1997–98 3,897,333 
			 1998–99 3,781,333 
			 1999–2000 4,144,000 
			 2000–01 4,180,000 
			 2001–02 4,640,000 
			 2002–03 5,460,856 
			 2003–04 6,107,102 
			 2004–05 6,050,672 
			 2005–06 6,290,679 
			   
			 New Forest National Park Authority(1)  
			 2005–06 3,517,297 
			   
			 Northumberland National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 1,448,000 
			 1997–98 1,732,000 
			 1998–99 1,578,667 
			 1999–2000 1,769,333 
			 2000–01 1,745,000 
			 2001–02 1,928,560 
			 2002–03 2,419,922 
			 2003–04 2,882,555 
			 2004–05 2,702,191 
			 2005–06 3,010,044 
			   
			 North York Moors National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 2,706,667 
			 1997–98 2,906,667 
			 1998–99 2,905,333 
			 1999–2000 3,380,000 
			 2000–01 3,212,000 
			 2001–02 3,565,239 
			 2002–03 4,224,936 
			 2003–04 4,677,842 
			 2004–05 4,678,157 
			 2005–06 4,933,864 
			   
			 Peak District National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 5,294,667 
			 1997–98 5,414,667 
			 1998–99 5,413,333 
			 1999–2000 5,904,000 
			 2000–01 5,984,000 
			 2001–02 6,223,073 
			 2002–03 6,721,617 
			 2003–04 7,361,069 
			 2004–05 7,422,471 
			 2005–06 7,542,550 
			   
			 Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority  
			 1996–97 2,605,333 
			 1997–98 2,805,333 
			 1998–99 2,912,000 
			 1999–2000 3,092,000 
			 2000–01 3,101,000 
			 2001–02 3,442,378 
			 2002–03 (2)4,583,616 
			 2003–04 (2)5,237,283 
			 2004–05 4,580,902 
			 2005–06 4,906,870 
		
	
	(1)National Park created 1 March 2005.
	2Includes £500,000 capital grant towards new office accommodation.

School Milk

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the proposed withdrawal of the subsidy for the provision of milk in nursery and primary schools.

Jim Knight: The evaluation of the national top-up to the EU school milk subsidy scheme in England was published on 4 January 2006. The report contained a number of recommendations which included ending the top-up and spending the £1.5 million released as a result on other programmes to promote milk consumption by young people. The Government have, however, decided that the subsidy scheme has a valuable role to play and should remain unchanged.

School Milk

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions (a) she has had and (b) officials within her Department have had with (i) representatives from Milk for Schools, (ii) local education authorities, (iii) headteachers and (iv) Dairy UK about the proposed withdrawal of subsidy for the provision of milk in nursery and primary schools.

Jim Knight: Ministers and officials from the Department and its agencies are in regular contact with stakeholders in the dairy sector, and other interested parties, on a range of issues. We have no plans to change the school milk subsidy scheme.

School Milk

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the free milk to schools scheme.

Jim Knight: An evaluation of the national top-up to the EU school milk subsidy scheme in England was published on 4 January. The report contained a number of recommendations which included ending the top-up and spending the £1.5 million released as a result on other programmes to promote milk consumption by young people. The Government have, however, decided that the subsidy scheme has a valuable role to play and should remain unchanged.
	Decisions on the implementation of the EU school milk subsidy scheme and the national top-up scheme in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh Assembly Government.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Crown Prosecution Service

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Solicitor-General how many people were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service on (a) 1 January 1997 and (b) 1 January 2005.

Mike O'Brien: The number of people who were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service on (a) 1 January 1997 and (b) 1 January 2005 are as follows.
	
		Staff in post FTE (full-time equivalent)
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1 January 1997 5,853 
			 1 January 2005 8,056 
		
	
	The increase in staff reflects additional responsibilities given to the CPS through, for example, the introduction of the charging programme, provision of better support to victims and witnesses and more advocacy undertaken by CPS prosecutors, as well as the demands of other initiatives to improve the effectiveness of the CPS.

Suspicious Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General what account the Crown Prosecution Service takes of the judgment of a coroner's inquest in deciding whether to bring charges in the case of a suspicious death where no charges have previously been made; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will decide whether or not to prosecute in accordance with the principles set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors: it will prosecute cases when there is a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to do so. The CPS will have regard to the verdict of a coroner's court and will take into consideration evidence that emerges at a coroner's inquest which affects the decision whether or not to bring a prosecution. Each case will be considered on its own particular facts.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

Disclosure of Documents

Kate Hoey: To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners for what reasons the Commissioners will not disclose the documents relating to claims against them for damages to the housing units in Ufford street, Mitre road and Webber street without a court order.

Stuart Bell: The Commissioners have been notified, by solicitors acting for a number of residents, of potential claims against them for damages arising from the improvements carried out by the Commissioners to premises in Ufford street, Mitre road and Webber street. This matter is the subject of potential litigation and it is therefore inappropriate for the Commissioners to make disclosure of documents outside the legal process. The Commissioners would not rule out making disclosure without a court order and without any admission of liability if the solicitors for the residents properly formulate their claims.

PRIME MINISTER

A Day in the Life"

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Prime Minister whether the costs of A Day in the Life were met from Labour party or from Government funds.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Hemel Hempstead (Mike Penning) on 12 January 2006, Official Report, column 742W.

A Day in the Life"

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Prime Minister whether his office sought guidance from (a) the Cabinet Secretary and (b) others as to whether A Day in the Life complied with (i) the Ministerial Code of Conduct and (ii) Government Communications Network guidance.

Tony Blair: The film complies with Government Communications guidance, copies of which are available at http: //www.comms.gov.uk/guidance/propriety/default.htm.

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Prime Minister what proportion of the premises occupied by his office is fitted with audible fire alarms.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) on 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1414W.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Prime Minister what the annual expenditure on vehicles by his office has been in each of the last three years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Tony Blair: For these purposes my office forms part of the Cabinet Office. I have therefore asked my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Murphy) to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in the Library of the House.

Diary Commitments

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his diary commitments for (a) Monday 2 January and (b) Tuesday 3 January.

Tony Blair: As my office made public at the time, I was on a short holiday over the Christmas recess. On Tuesday 3 January I met with ministerial colleagues and others.

Political Honours

Michael Meacher: To ask the Prime Minister why he abolished the political honours scrutiny committee.

Tony Blair: I refer my right hon. Friend to recommendation 10 of Reform of the Honours System" (cm 6479). Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Working Hours

Michael Penning: To ask the Prime Minister what EU regulations govern his working hours; what opt outs exist to provide for him to surpass working hour regulations; what court cases are currently before the European courts reviewing the legality of these opt outs; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Holders of political offices in the UK are not defined as workers" under the terms of European working time legislation, and are therefore not subject to the working time limits: as such, they do not need to opt out.

DEFENCE

Security

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the security situation in the Balkans.

Adam Ingram: The security situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains stable; the EU led operation continues to deter, to reassure and to provide a safe and secure environment. In Kosovo the security situation remains stable following the commencement of the final status process; NATO's Kosovo Force continues to provide a safe and secure environment.

Visits (RAF Cosford)

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often he has visited RAF Cosford to assess training facilities during the last 12 months.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend the former Secretary of State for Defence, Geoff Hoon, was the last Defence Minister to visit the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering at Cosford, on 24 February 2005.

Security (Afghanistan)

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the security situation in Afghanistan.

John Reid: The international community, including the UK, is in Afghanistan: to support the Government of Afghanistan as it extends its authority across the entire country; to facilitate reconstruction and development; to improve security; and to counter the narcotics trade. We have made progress on all these things but much remains for us to do. The security situation remains fragile, which is why we remain committed to the expansion of the International Security Assistance Force across Afghanistan.

Veterans Awareness Week

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what representations has he received from the ex-service community about the Veterans Awareness Week in July 2005.

Don Touhig: I have received many positive comments from the ex-Service community during and after Veterans Awareness Week, and I am sure hon. Members will agree that the events, which culminated with the parade of standards along the Mall, were truly memorable.

British Infantry

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the adequacy and availability of British infantry to fulfil additional urgent deployments.

Adam Ingram: Our plans ensure that we have forces of appropriately high readiness, including the Infantry, in place to meet urgent contingent operations.

Military Equipment (Complaints)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the complaints by troops concerning military equipment in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: Our troops are among the best in the world at what they do and I am determined that they should continue to receive the equipment they need to carry out the tasks they are given.
	In general, our equipment continues to perform well in extremely demanding environments and the number of complaints we receive from troops reflects this. Learning from experience is a vital element in achieving this aim. This is why there is an established system for collating information about the performance of military equipment on operations. This provides valuable feedback from the front line enabling rapid action to be taken to correct defects and to improve reliability.

Iraq

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the training the UK is giving to Iraqi security forces.

John Reid: The United Kingdom is engaged in a number of training initiatives with the Iraqi security forces in Multi National Division (South East) and in Baghdad to enable the Iraqi Government to progressively take on responsibility for security.

Iraq

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many mobilised reservists are deployed in Iraq in each of the three services.

John Reid: There are currently around 700 reservists deployed in Iraq. This figure comprises: over 650 Army reserves; 28 Royal Air Force reserves; and 20 Royal Marine reserves.

Iraq

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make a statement on the location of new regimental headquarters.

Adam Ingram: As the hon. Member may be aware, there is an ongoing study into the future of infantry regimental headquarters. It is too early to speculate on what the outcomes of this review will be, but we expect to make a decision in the spring.

Iraq

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2342W, on Iraq, what are the names of the individuals suspected of being responsible for the deaths of the six members of the Royal military police.

Adam Ingram: It would be inappropriate to provide this information. The release of such information could prejudice the central criminal court of Iraq's ongoing investigation.

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many neurologists were employed by his Department in 2003; and how many were deployed with Operation Telic.

Don Touhig: In 2003, two neurologists were members of our Reserve Forces, one of whom was deployed as part of a neurosurgical team from 1 March to 18 May 2003.

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been undertaken by his Department of the effects of depleted uranium on (a) Coalition forces, (b) Iraqi forces and (c) civilians in Iraq since May 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Information on the Ministry of Defence Depleted Uranium research programme was announced to the House on 14 March 2002, Official Report, columns 117980W. A more detailed description of the research has been published on the Departmental website (http://www.mod.uk/issues/depleted_uranium/index.htm). In addition to this, in June 2003, MOD scientists completed a preliminary technical assessment of a number of Iraqi tanks thought to have been struck by DU rounds. Very low levels of DU were found in the vicinity of and on the tanks. I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given in another place by my noble Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence (Lord Bach) on 26 May 2004, Official Report, column196WA. Biological monitoring has also been carried out on several hundred UK troops and civilians involved in operations in Iraq. No DU was detected in anyone other than a small number of personnel who received shrapnel injuries in an incident involving friendly fire.
	This research is not specifically directed at examining the effects on Iraqis as the health of the Iraqi people is primarily the responsibility of their Government. However, as announced in the House on 29 January 2001, Official Report, column 61W, in relation to operations in the Balkans, the UK will provide help and advice to assist the relevant authorities to decide what action, if any, is needed. This also applies to Iraq. As part of this commitment, MOD has provided United Nations Environment Programme with information on its use of DU munitions in Iraq in 2003 and with a report of its monitoring activities in June 2003.

Defence Training

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent representations he has received on the future of defence training; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: The Defence Training Review is a complex programme with many stakeholders and interested parties. I have received many representations but as I have said in previous replies, a rigorous evaluation of bid proposals is currently under way.

Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) Project

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress there has been on the Landing Ships Dock (Auxiliary) project; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) project continues to make progress towards the completion of the four bay class vessels. RFA Mounts Bay, the first ship built by BAE Systems in Glasgow, was accepted off contract on 15 December 2005 and is now undergoing her capability trials in readiness for meeting her in-service date in late 2006. Build and testing continues on the remaining three ships.

Joint Combat Aircraft Project

Michael Jack: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he last discussed the UK's participation in the joint combat aircraft project with his US counterpart.

Adam Ingram: Regular discussions take place at all levels with the US Administration on all aspects of the joint combat aircraft project. Ministry of Defence and other Ministers continue to raise project issues during their discussions with key members of the US Administration.

Future Aircraft Carriers

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the new aircraft carrier programme.

Adam Ingram: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 14 December, we have taken major steps forward in our plans for the Future Aircraft Carriers.
	We have completed the detailed assessment work and have committed to the 300 million demonstration phase.
	An innovative shipbuilding strategy has been agreed which is central to our Defence Industrial Strategy with separate super blocks built at four yards and final assembly at Rosyth.
	This will create and sustain some 10,000 jobs in the United Kingdom.
	We are on course to provide the UK armed forces with the largest and most powerful warships ever constructed in the UK, and an expeditionary capability unparalleled outside of the US.

Future Aircraft Carriers

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects orders to be placed for the two CVF aircraft carriers; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Plans to acquire two new future aircraft carriers (CVF) are progressing well following the transition into the Demonstration Phase announced on 14 December 2005. The Demonstration Phase will deliver a mature design, provide more detailed cost definition, reduce risk and produce a contractual framework that will allow a decision to be made to commit to manufacture.

Surplus Equipment

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on controls over the end use of surplus military equipment sold by his Department.

Adam Ingram: Surplus equipment that is considered to have potential further use in a military application is subject to inter-departmental clearance procedures on security, political, industrial and technological grounds including consideration of the end use where sold to other Governments. All sales agreements with other Governments make specific provision for Her Majesty's Government to approve any subsequent transfer or sale.
	For sales into the commercial market, once title has transferred, there is no restriction placed upon subsequent transfer or sale provided the buyer complies with all the requirements of the export licensing regime should it be decided to export from the UK.
	We routinely demilitarise the most sensitive military equipment and dispose as waste or recycle equipment that cannot be sold for further use.

Falklands Campaign (Commemoration)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the Government have to mark the anniversary of the Falklands war.

Don Touhig: Officials are working with the South Atlantic Medal Association 1982 and other representatives of the veterans of the Falklands campaign to develop plans for commemoration of the 25th anniversary. The main event will be in London on Sunday 17 June 2007. I will announce details in the near future.

Cadet Forces

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department gives to cadet forces.

Don Touhig: The Ministry of Defence provides direct funding to the individual services to allow their respective cadet forces to offer a vast range of personal development and educational opportunities for youngsters and, with their nationwide reach, acts as a genuine force for good both for the youngsters who join as well as for the communities in which they live. In addition the services provide significant benefit in kind to support cadet training activities; primarily the use of training facilities but also material and limited manpower resources.

Co-operative Engagement Capability

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2759W, on co-operative engagement capability, which capabilities over and above those originally planned for the first class Type-45 destroyers are not currently expected to be fitted to the class in addition to the enhanced electronic warfare capabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Most of the capability originally planned to be fitted to the Type 45 through the incremental acquisition plan relates to upgrades in software to enhance elements of the ship's combat system. It is not possible to provide any more specific details as to what these capabilities are as to do so could prejudice the protection of national sovereignty against internal or external threats.

DCAE Cosford

Patrick McFadden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact (a) closure and (b) downsizing ofDCAE Cosford may have on the (i) Shropshire and (ii) West Midlands economies.

Don Touhig: The Defence Training Review is currently evaluating the bidding consortia's proposals. Until this phase is complete and a decision has been taken to select a preferred training partner, I am not in a position to make any detailed comment on the potential impact on any site or region of the United Kingdom.

Defence Training Review

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the locations of (a) population centres, (b) labour markets, (c) higher education institutions and (d) aerospace companies in choosing locations as part of the Defence Training Review.

Don Touhig: The procurement strategy of the Defence Training Review (DTR) Programme has required bidders to select training sites as part of their responses to the Invitations to Negotiate. This has been essential to ensure an integrated training and estates solution which delivers value for money. A comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the bidding consortia's proposals is under way judged against defined evaluation criteria. Before a decision is reached on the preferred bidder, a Regional Socio-Economic Report will also be undertaken to assess the broader impact of the DTR Programme on the surrounding regions. This will not be concluded until the summer 2006.

Defence Training Review

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Defence Training Review on the aerospace industry in the West Midlands;
	(2)  what criteria he included in the Defence Training Review to ensure that its proposals will take account of the potential impact on businesses in the aerospace and engineering sectors.

Don Touhig: The Defence Training Review (DTR) Programme is conducting a comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the bidding consortia's proposals against defined evaluation criteria. As part of the MOD's wider assessment process a Regional Socio-Economic Report will be undertaken to assess the broader impact of the DTR Programme on the surrounding region and its economy. Until the evaluation phase is complete and a decision has been taken to select a preferred training partner, currently expected in summer 2006, I am not in a position to make any detailed comment on the wider impact of the DTR solution.

Electoral Administration

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  if he will publish the questionnaire for the survey to establish the level of voter registration among service personnel; and when he will publish the findings of the survey;
	(2)  which agency or organisation within his Department was responsible for (a) devising and (b) carrying out the survey to establish the level of voter registration among service personnel;
	(3)  which Minister within his Department is responsible for the survey to establish the level of voter registration among service personnel;
	(4)  where the survey to establish the level of voter registration among service personnel was carried out, broken down by (a) service, (b) unit and (c) base; what the sample size was; and over what period the survey was carried out;
	(5)  what estimate he has made of the likely response rate to the survey to establish the level of voter registration among service personnel; and what adjustment he will make to the findings of the survey to allow for non-responses.

Don Touhig: The survey to establish the level of voter registration among Service personnel has been planned in conjunction with the Electoral Commission. The Defence Analytical Services Agency (DASA) devised the sampling strategy and is carrying out the survey. The questionnaire was despatched during the second week of December to 8,849 randomly selected service personnel, UK based and abroad, across all ranks and services. Responses are due for return by 3 February 2006.
	The survey has been designed to produce results accurate to 5 per cent. for each service by officers and other ranks, and by posting in the UK or overseas, assuming a response rate of 45 per cent. Where response rates vary by groups, for example other ranks posted overseas, results will be weighted to ensure results are representative. As the Minister responsible for the survey, I intend that the results will be published and hope to be able to do so by the end of March 2006. Meanwhile, I am placing a copy of the questionnaire in the Library of the House.

Equal Opportunity Advisers

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the number of unit equal opportunity advisers in each of the armed forces.

Don Touhig: Although 5,714 members of the armed forces have been trained as unit equal opportunities advisers no information is held centrally on the number of these personnel currently acting in this capacity.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future role in Gibraltar of the (a) RAF, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Army, (d) the Department's Gibraltarian workforce, (e) Navy, Army and Airforce Institution, (f) Department Hospital and (g) Department's schools.

Adam Ingram: There are no plans to change Gibraltar's current military role, which centres on providing a forward mounting base and other facilities to support overseas operations. This role will be kept under regular review.
	An Infrastructure Service Provider (ISP) is to be introduced covering a number of facilities management functions. Introduction of the ISP will be based on a fair and open competition, which includes consideration of an in-house option. Efficiency measures will be achieved without reduction in output. These are essential to safeguard the Ministry of Defence's long-term commitment to Gibraltar.
	The Navy, Army and Airforce Institution (NAAFI) facility in Gibraltar, providing a range of retail services comparable with those at other overseas stations where UK armed forces and their families are based, is located at Devil's Tower Camp. It is NAAFI's intent to open an additional facility at Europa Point in the near future.
	An Integrated Healthcare Facility at Devil's Tower Camp will replace the Royal Naval Hospital (RNH) and the Joint Medical Centre and Dental Unit (JMDU). This project is on schedule to open in November 2007, at which point the RNH and JMDU sites will be handed over to the Government of Gibraltar.
	Improvements are being made to the internal condition of St. Christopher School, and a programme is under way to develop management at the school.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy to seek parliamentary approval before sale of the 'golden share' in QinetiQ and if he will make a statement.

John Reid: The Special (or Golden) Share that MOD presently holds in QinetiQ will be retained after the flotation of the company, to protect UK defence and security interests, as currently. There are no plans to relinquish the Special Share, even after any subsequent sell-down of the remainder of the Government's shareholding in QinetiQ, although this will be kept under review. If in the future there were any such plans, Ministers would anticipate informing Parliament.

RAF Leeming

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of RAF Leeming.

Adam Ingram: As stated in my written ministerial statement of 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 25WS, I have decided, subject to trade unions consultation, that the RAF communications hub will be formed at RAF Leeming. Thismeans that communications personnel would move from RAF Sealand to RAF Leeming by April 2006. Communications personnel from RAF Brize Norton and RAF High Wycombe would move to RAF Leeming in 2007.

Royal Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of security of supply of (a) boxer caps, (b) initiators and (c) detonators; and which countries he expects to supply his Department via BAE Systems contracts if Royal Ordnance Chorley is closed.

Adam Ingram: BAE Systems Land Systems will remain responsible for the security of supply of products previously manufactured at Chorley. Decisions on alternate sources are a commercial matter for the company.

Royal Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which suppliers to his Department are being considered to replace Royal Ordnance Chorley.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 January 2006
	BAE Systems Land Systems will remain responsible for the security of supply of products previously manufactured at Chorley. Decisions on alternate sources are a commercial matter for the company.

Royal Ordnance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment the Munitions Corporate Business Unit has made of the proposed cessation of manufacturing at Royal Ordnance Chorley.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The Ministry of Defence are fully engaged with BAES Land Systems and a joint team has been formed to oversee the cessation of manufacturing. We remain confident that risks are being effectively managed and the company's plans are realistic and workable.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to extend the three-year period for a 12-months mobilisation to five years for Territorial Army personnel.

Don Touhig: There are no plans to make any orders under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to extend the obligatory periods of mobilised service set out in that Act. It is our policy intention that reservists should only be mobilised compulsorily for a total of up to one year in any five except where no viable alternative exists.

Territorial Army

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what length of time Territorial Army personnel have to be on continuous overseas duty before they are exempted from income tax.

Don Touhig: Territorial Army personnel, like all Crown Servants, are not exempt from paying income tax when they are on overseas duty.

Training and Evaluation Capabilities

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the next routine five-yearly review of long-term partnership agreements on capabilities in training and evaluation will take place.

Adam Ingram: The first quinquennial review of the Long Term Partnering Agreement between the Ministry of Defence and QinetiQ for the provision of Test, Evaluation and Training Services is due to complete by April 2008. Initial planning and scoping of the necessary workstreams is already under way.

Veterans' Badges

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is eligible to apply for the UK armed forces veterans' badge.

Don Touhig: The armed forces veterans' badge will be issued to all service veterans. To cope with demand, eligibility to apply for the badge has been extended to veterans in tranches. Currently those eligible to apply include men and women who served in HM armed forces up to and including 31 December 1954.
	Merchant seamen, Polish forces under United Kingdom command, the Cyprus Regiment and the Home Guard are also eligible to receive the badge. Widow(ers) whose spouse died from an injury or illness attributable to their service and who are in receipt of a war widow(ers) pension are also eligible to apply for the armed forces veteran's badge.
	For a one-year trial period from February 2005, those currently leaving the armed forces have also been eligible. This arrangement will be reviewed shortly.

TRANSPORT

A418/A413

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on the timetable for the (a) A418 Wing bypass and (b) A413 Wendover Road corridor improvements;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his policy on a bypass for Bierton in Buckinghamshire.

Karen Buck: These relate to improvements on local roads, and as such are matters for Buckinghamshire county council to bring forward within their local transport plan.
	Local road schemes costing more than 5 million are subject to prioritisation within the regional funding allocation, on the basis of advice from the region.

Administration Costs

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the administrative costs were of each agency for which he has responsibility in the last year for which figures are available; what the total of such costs was in that year; and whether the costs are regarded for the purposes of public expenditure statistical analyses as (a) identifiable and (b) non-identifiable.

Karen Buck: The total administrative costs reported by each agency of the Department for 200405 are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 Agency Administrative costs 200405 (000) 
		
		
			 Driving Standards Agency 129,571 
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 404,070 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 136,298 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency 2,174 
			 Highways Agency 94,823 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 65,964 
			 Total 832,900 
		
	
	Administrative costs include staff, accommodation and other operating costs, including depreciation and other non-cash charges where appropriate. Fuller information on the income and expenditure of each agency is published in its Annual Report and Accounts, which is available in the Library of the House.
	With the exception of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), net expenditure of the agencies is 'identifiable' for the purposes of the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) published by the Treasury. MCA net expenditure is deemed to be non-identifiable and is considered to benefit the UK as a whole.

Alstom Rail Test Track

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has held with (a) Network Rail, (b) the Association of Train Operating Companies and (c) Alstom about the impact of the closure of the Alstom rail test track on (i) jobs and (ii) engineering capacity in the UK.

Derek Twigg: The Department has held informal discussions with Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies about the implications for UK railway testing capability of Alstom's announcement of its intention to surrender its lease of the Asfordby/Old Dalby test track. Alstom's announcement was not preceded by discussions with the Department. BRB Residuary Ltd. has subsequently asked Alstom to clarify its intentions so that the future of the facility can be considered.

Aylesbury Southern Link Road

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the proposed Aylesbury southern link road.

Karen Buck: There are currently no proposals for an Aylesbury southern relief road before the Secretary of State. I am aware that local authorities in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands area submitted sub-regional studies to the South East England Regional Assembly on proposals for delivering housing growth, including infrastructure to support new developments. This scheme was included in the information supplied by the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes authorities. It is for the Regional Assembly to consider the study's recommendations as they develop the South East Plan.

Bus Companies

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus companies were in existence in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: Information relating specifically to bus companies is not held centrally. The following table relates to the number of Public Service Vehicle Operator's licences (which are required by any bus or coach operator) in issue for the last five years:
	
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405(2) 
		
		
			 Special restricted 146 120 128 126 112 
			 Restricted 2,373 2,303 2,107 2,701 2,986 
			 Standard 2,865 2,837 2,663 3,029 3,065 
			 Standard international 2,780 2,672 2,540 2,647 2,563 
			 Total 8,164 7,932 7,438 8,403 8,726 
		
	
	(2)Provisional
	A Public Service Operator licence is generally required to carry passengers for hire or reward in vehicles adapted to carry nine or more passengers, and smaller vehicles in some circumstances.
	There are four types of Public Service Vehicle Operator's licence. The special restricted licence is only available to Hackney Carriage operators who wish to use their taxis to operate a registered local bus service. The restricted licence only allows the operation of a maximum of two vehicles up to 16 seats. There are no restrictions on the number or size of vehicles for the other two types of licence which are, essentially, those used by bus and coach operators.
	Currently there are approximately 1,700 PSV licence holders claiming Bus Service Operators Grant, which is a rebate on the fuel duty paid by the operator for the fuel used while operating a local bus service.

Bus Companies

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent assessment he has made of the impact of fuel duty on local bus operators.

Karen Buck: Operators of local bus services are entitled to claim Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) from this Department. In general this grant is equivalent to 80 per cent. of the duty paid on the fuel used in operating services (the percentage of duty reimbursed is higher for gas used as a road fuel and bio-diesel).
	The rate of BSOG is kept under regular review.
	Policy on fuel duty is of course a matter for HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs.

Concessionary Travel

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether a senior citizen will be eligible for free travel in an area where he (a) is not a council taxpayer and (b) has a second home under new proposals for concessionary travel.

Karen Buck: In such cases, it is at the local authority's discretion.

Cycling England

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the Department's funding to Cycling England is for each of the next three years.

Derek Twigg: The Department has provided Cycling England with a budget of 5 million per year for the three financial years from 200506.

Executive Agencies

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) targets, (b) advice and (c) guidance his Department has given to executive agencies that fall under the remit of his Department on the reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: Agency key targets are set annually and agreed with the Department and Ministers, taking into account wider government objectives and priorities. Since its formation on 29 May 2002, the central Department has set no specific targets and offered no specific advice or guidance to the executive agencies on the subject of reorganisation of their administrative functions on a regional basis.

Identity Fraud

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what training his Department has provided for (a) front desk and (b) administrative staff in relation to identity fraud.

Karen Buck: The Department is fully committed to reducing identity fraud and provides training for staff where it is required as part of their role. Such training is provided through specific courses, as part of general job specific training, or through mentoring.

Night Flying Restrictions

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether it is his policy to allow the overall number of night flights into and out of Heathrow airport to increase.

Karen Buck: We have published a consultation paper, Night Flying Restrictions at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted Airports, Stage 2. of Consultation on Restrictions to apply from 30 October 2005. This invited views on proposals for future night flight restrictions. We are considering responses to that consultation and will announce our decisions in due course.

Predictive Dialling

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 December 2005, Official Report, column 2315W, on predictive diallers, whether his Department makes calls using predictive dialling technology to groups other than members of the public.

Karen Buck: The Department for Transport does not use predictive dialling technology.

Public Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits ofa public transport (a) hub and (b) corridor for Aylesbury; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: A public transport hub proposal for Aylesbury was provisionally approved for Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) bid funding in March 2005. Ministers are expecting to announce the final decision on this shortly, as well as on other transport CIF proposals in Aylesbury.

Public Transport

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much has been spent on subsidies for (a) rail and (b) bus travel in East Yorkshire in each of the last five years.

Karen Buck: Rail services in East Yorkshire are supplied as part of four rail franchises with wider geographical boundaries than the county. Subsidies cannot be identified to a particular region.
	Information on subsidies for local bus services is not available for East Yorkshire. However, figures are available for the East Riding of Yorkshire unitary authority. Expenditure by the authority on support of bus services is shown in the table (this includes expenditure funded by the Department's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant.)
	
		
			  Bus subsidy (000) 
		
		
			 200001 2,196 
			 200102 2,748 
			 200203 3,029 
			 200304 3,151 
			 200405 3,511

Public Transport

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what his policy is on the proposed new (a) railway station and (b) park and ride scheme at Stoke Mandeville;
	(2)  what his policy is on park and ride schemes for (a) Weedon Hill and (b) Aston Clinton.

Karen Buck: The Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) proposal for Aylesbury Parkway rail station to the north of Aylesbury includes a park and ride scheme. This was provisionally approved in March 2005 for CIF funding. Ministers are expecting to announce the final decision on this shortly, as well as on other CIF proposals in Aylesbury.
	A park and ride scheme at Stoke Mandeville is included in a list of schemes recently proposed by Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire local authorities for inclusion in the South East Plan. It is now for the South East Regional Assembly to consider this proposal as they develop the South East Plan.
	New park and ride schemes at Weedon Hill and Aston Clinton are not identified as major schemes in the Buckinghamshire county council's provisional local transport plan. Any such proposals are for the local authority to consider and develop as appropriate.

Public Transport

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been spent on improvements in transport infrastructure in Gravesham since 1997.

Karen Buck: Since the introduction of Local Transport Plans in 2000, Kent county council has received around 160 million for local transport improvements and maintenance schemes. In addition the county council has 16 million for the Kent Fasttrack public transport scheme.
	Between 1997 and 2000 the county council received approximately 159 million for local transport capital investment. 16 million was provided for the South Thames-side Development Route Section 4 (some of which is included in the 159 million). The Department does not have the data to identify a figure for all local transport investment in Gravesham.
	The Highways Agency's improvements have included the widening of the A2 between Bean and Cobham Phase One, costing 23 million. This work was completed in 2005.
	Kent has benefited from the new trains and associated power supply and depot upgrades delivered as part of the Mark 1 slam door stock replacement programme, the total value of the investment (benefiting Kent and other parts of London and the South East) being in the region of 2 billion.
	The Gravesham constituency has also benefited from the 4.6 billion Channel Tunnel Rail Link project, which includes a major new station within Gravesham constituency at Ebbsfleet, which will be served by international trains to Paris and Brussels from 2007 and high speed domestic trains to St. Pancras from 2009 (journey time Ebbsfleet to St. Pancras 16 minutes).

Public Transport

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to improve access to public transport for disabled people in Gravesham.

Karen Buck: We have introduced accessibility planning into the local transport planning process to encourage local authorities and other agencies to assess more systematically whether people can access transport services in their areas. This process covers all forms of transport from buses, coaches and taxis to cycling and walking networks. Making provision for disabled people is a condition against which the resulting Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are assessed.
	At a local level, we are supporting the continued introduction of low floor buses in Gravesham. The Kickstart project (services 495/498 between Kings Farm, Christianfields, Gravesend Town Centre, Pepper Hill and Bluewater), launched in March 2005, introduced low floor single deck buses to the route replacing minibuses which were inaccessible to wheelchair users. The introduction of the new vehicles was combined with a programme of work to introduce raised kerbs and bus boarders on this route.
	The Department continues to invest in accessibility improvements in Gravesham through LTP funding. Kent county council, Gravesham's local bus provider, Arriva and the Gravesham Access Group (which represents disabled people in the district) work in close partnership to identify priorities for funding. This includes identifying stops which require raised kerbing, dropped kerbs or hard standing.
	LTP funding has also resulted in a 14.5 million investment in Fastrack, the new bus based transit system serving Gravesend, which will have fully accessible vehicles and roadside infrastructure designed in accordance with current best practice. Due to commence in March 2006, Fastrack will have bus boarders at all Gravesham stops to complement the fleet of new low-floor vehicles, providing level access for all passengers. All Fastrack stops will also be fitted with real time information displays.
	Arriva estimates that at present over 70 per cent. of their Gravesham buses are low floor. They also endeavour to ensure that all staff receive disability awareness training.
	Rail services in Gravesham are also generally accessible, a situation that will be enhanced with the completion of Ebbsfleet station. When opened, this station will offer high standards of accessibility and will be served by trains which meet the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 1998 (RVAR) operating on the Integrated Kent Franchise. This will provide fast access to Stratford International and London St.Pancras stations (both of which will be fully accessible) and also south to Ashford International together with access to 'Eurostar' services to Belgium and France. The new station will have ample parking including convenient spaces reserved for disabled passengers.
	More generally disabled people in Gravesham, as elsewhere in the country, will also benefit from the provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (DDA 2005). We have already laid regulations which will, from 4 December 2006, lift the transport exemption in Part 3 of the Act for land-based public transport, vehicle hire, breakdown services and vehicles used on leisure and tourism transport services. We will also be consulting shortly on draft regulations to set an end date of no later than 1 January 2020 when all trains will have to meet RVAR and to apply those regulations to older trains when they are refurbished.

Rail Modernisation Fund

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport how much of the Rail Modernisation Fund had been spent at the end of the financial year 200405.

Derek Twigg: We have invested some 7.7 billion between 200105 and plan to invest some 19 billion further by 2009.

Road Building (Lancashire)

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice the Environment Agency has offered to Lancashire county council regarding (a) the Heysham M6 link and (b) the proposed bridge over the River Lune at Halton.

Stephen Ladyman: The Environment Agency is commissioned by Lancashire county council to advise on the Heysham-M6 Link Road scheme. Lancashire county council has been having ongoing discussions with the agency about all environmental aspects of the Heysham-M6 Link scheme. The design of the proposed bridge over the River Lune at Halton has been amended in accordance with advice from the agency.

Road Safety

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of fatal road traffic accidents were assessed as being wholly or in part attributable to the consumption of illegal drugs by drivers in each of the last five years.

Stephen Ladyman: Estimates of fatalities in road accidents where the use of legal or illegal drugs by drivers was a contributory factor are not available, because routine accident reports do not currently record such factors. However under a pilot scheme, information on contributory factors to road accidents has been collected by 15 police forces. The use of legal or illegal drugs by drivers was considered a contributory factor in about 3 per cent. of fatal accidents recorded under this pilot scheme from 2000 to 2004.

Strategic Health Authority Staff

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many former Strategic Health Authority staff have been redeployed to (a) Network Rail, (b) the Office of the Rail Regulator, (c) other Government bodies and (d) his Department; and how many have been made redundant.

Derek Twigg: 14 staff of the Strategic Rail Authority have transferred to Network Rail, four to the Office of Rail Regulation and 171 to the Department for Transport. As at 31 January 2006, 139 will have been made redundant. Figures are not available in respect of staff moving to other Government bodies.

Tram Schemes

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much direct Government funding has been allocated to proposed tram schemes in (a) Merseyside, (b) Manchester and (c) West Yorkshire; and what meetings he has attended where schemes were discussed in the past 10 months.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 15 December 2005
	I refer the hon. Member to my Statement to the House on 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 17WS, about Merseytram, and the Secretary of State's Statement on 3 November 2005, Official Report, column60WS, about Leeds Supertram. These Statements made clear that funding was no longer available for these schemes.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Transport's Statement on 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 152WS, about Manchester Metrolink which confirmed that 520 million public funding would be made available to deal with transport problems in areas covered by Phase III. The 520 million budget included an up-front local contribution of 60 million, and 70 million to be recouped through deductions of 7 million per annum from Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive's Local Transport Plan allocations, for 10 years.
	The Secretary of State has attended frequent meetings with ministerial colleagues and officials to discuss a whole range of departmental policies.

Transport 2010 Document

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made towards meeting the targets in the Transport 2010 plan for (a) increased rail passenger kilometres and (b) increased rail freight.

Derek Twigg: Annual passenger rail use has increased from 38.2 billion passenger kilometres in April 2001 to 42.4 billion passenger kilometres at the end of March 2005. This represents an increase of 11 per cent.
	The amount of rail freight has increased from 18.1 billion net tonne kilometres in 200001 to 20.6billion net tonne kilometres in 200405. This is an increase of almost 14 per cent.

Tyne and Wear Metro

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the operating subsidy for the Tyne and Wear Metro is determined; what the operating subsidy is for 200506; what discussions he has had on the operating subsidy for 200607; and when he expects those discussions to be concluded.

Derek Twigg: Prior to 199798 support for metropolitan rail services was paid indirectly to all Passenger Transport Executives. In the case of Tyne and Wear these payments supported both heavy rail and Metro services.
	Subsequently, heavy rail subsidy has been provided through franchise payments to Train Operating Companies and a separate subsidy has been provided for the Tyne and Wear Metro. This was calculated, until 200506 on the basis of a formula similar to that in place under the previous arrangements. Additional amounts were paid to subsidise the operation of the Sunderland extension, which opened in 2002, according to the actual operating deficit rather than the formula.
	The Department has been engaged in detailed discussions with Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive, to establish a new basis for providing operating subsidy from 200607 onwards and an agreement should be concluded soon, enabling the subsidy level for 200607 to be finalised.

Vehicle Operating Service Authority

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many consultants the Vehicle Operating Service Authority employs; how long each has been employed; in what capacity; and at what cost.

Karen Buck: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) currently utilise 16 consultants. The majority have been working with VOSA for less than 12 months mainly assisting in specialist areas within projects such as MOT Computerisation project. This table sets out job functions and start dates of these consultants.
	
		
			 Job title Start date 
		
		
			 Interfaces Project Manager 1 April 2002 
			 IT Project Manager 21 March 2005 
			 Contract Manager 17 March 2005 
			 Programme Assurance Manager 6 September 2004 
			 Programme Manager 14 December 2004 
			 Project Management Consultant (employed on ad hoc basis) 22 October 2003 
			 Change Controller 4 April 2005 
			 Head of Service Management Delivery 8 August 2005 
			 Technical Assurance Manager 1997 
			 Project Manager 13 June 2005 
			 MOT Computerisation Reviews (employed on ad hoc basis) 1 September 2005 
			 Project and Programme Quality Assurance 8 August 2005 
			 Organisation Design Project 1 September 2005 
			 Technical Assurance Review of the Commercial Portal (project 50 days work in total) 24 October 2005 
			 Technical Assurance Review of the Commercial Portal (project 50 days work in total) 24 October 2005 
			 Technical Assurance Review of the Commercial Portal (project 50 days work in total) 24 October 2005 
		
	
	Although over the course of the current financial year, there have been other consultants working with VOSA, it would involve disproportionate cost to establish the total number. In total, in the financial year up to 20 December 2005, VOSA attributed 2,592,420 to all consultancy work.

TREASURY

Africa (Debt Repayments)

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value of bilateral debt repayments to the United Kingdom by each country in Africa was for (a) the calendar year 2005 and (b) financial year 200405; and what the expected value is for 200506.

John Healey: The following table shows the official bilateral debt payments received from African countries, and the debts cancelled, by the UK Government for the financial years 200405 and 200506. The figures for the 2005 calendar year are not held centrally within HM Treasury, DfID or the ECGD, and to gather all the information would incur disproportionate costs.
	
		 million
		
			  200405 200506 
			 Market Recoveries Debt forgiveness Recoveries Debt forgiveness 
		
		
			 Algeria 17.800  20.227  
			 Botswana 0.02
			 Cameroon  5.782   
			 Cote d'Ivoire  0.956   
			 D R Congo  2.539   
			 Egypt 12.153  12.966  
			 Ethiopia  10.551   
			 Gabon 8.249  19.155  
			 Ghana  66.056   
			 Kenya 2.422  0.595  
			 Madagascar  24.064   
			 Malawi  0.079   
			 Morocco 8.203  6.471  
			 Niger  4.967   
			 Nigeria 105.954  1,052.662 1,142.412 
			 Republic of Congo  74.000 0.153  
			 Senegal  0.143  0.881 
			 Sierra Leone  0.052  0.001 
			 Zambia  162.390   
			 Zimbabwe 0.6  0.08  
			 Totals 155.383 351.579 1,112.223 1,143.294 
		
	
	1.Debt forgiveness figures as at 31 December 2005. There may be additional debt forgiveness before March 2006, but this cannot be estimated at present.
	2.The payments by Zimbabwe were for ODA loans given by DfID.
	3.The data for Botswana and Kenya include payments to CDC,formerly known as the Commonwealth Development Corporation.
	4.Debt relief figures do not include payments from DFID to ECGD to allow 100 per cent. cancellation of ECGD loans and reimbursements under the Hold in Trust policy. These amounted to about 12.5 million in 200405. The estimate for 200506 is 1.2 million.

Bars and London NHS Trust

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what meetings officials from his Department have had with representatives of the Barts and the London NHS Trust; when such meetings took place; what discussions took place at such meetings; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals as part of the process of policy development and analysis. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Business Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amendments have been made to (a) regulations, (b) primary legislation and (c) legislation relating tothe levying of business rates on domestic properties used in whole or part of business purposes since May 1997.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	None of the provisions in primary legislation or regulations which relate specifically to the rating of properties which are used for both domestic and non-domestic purposes has been amended since 1997.

Charities

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will takes steps to ensure that (a) documentary evidence is provided to support the allegations to be made about UK charities at the forthcoming meeting between the Israeli ambassador and the Economic Secretary and (b) that evidence is made available to (i) the Charities Commission and (ii) the charity concerned at the earliest possible opportunity.

John Healey: The regulation of UK charities is a matter for the Charities Commission. The Treasury, along with other Government Departments and the Charities Commission take all allegations against UK charities seriously and we stand ready to take any appropriate action.

Child Trust Fund

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of the Child Trust Fund for each year from 200405 to 200910; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of child trust funds was in 2005.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Gentlemen to the answer given to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Hodge Hill (Mr. Byrne) on 22 March 2005, Official Report, column 701W.

Compensation Claims

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to protect the public from excessive claims for commission by companies pursuing claims compensation.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	Part 2 of the Compensation Bill, introduced in the House of Lords on 2 November 2005, sets out a statutory framework for the regulation of claims management services.
	The legislation will require those providing claims management services to be authorised by a regulator and abide by rules of conduct and a code of practice. These will make clear that the level of charges or fees for providing claims management services must be made clear to the claimant at the outset and be proportionate to the amount of work involved.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

John Healey: The number of disciplinary procedures that have resulted in disciplinary penalties being applied to employees of HM Treasury in each of the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of disciplinary procedures 
		
		
			 2001 4 
			 2002 5 
			 2003 3 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 1 
		
	
	In addition, disciplinary procedures have been initiated against employees who have resigned before the disciplinary case has been concluded as follows:
	
		
			  Number of procedures initiated against employees who resigned 
		
		
			 2001 0 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 0 
			 2005 3 
		
	
	The Department does not keep a record of the number of disciplinary cases that are initiated and concluded but not proven.

Drug-related Deaths

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths consumption of illegal drugs was the primary cause in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 23 January 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking in how many deaths consumption of illegal drugs was the primary cause in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (44726)
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2003. The table below shows the number of deaths for which any drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act was mentioned on the death certificate and the underlying cause was drug poisoning, for each of the ten years 1994 to 2003.
	
		Deaths from drug-related poisoning(3) involving illegal substances,(4) England and Wales 1994 to 2003(5)
		
			  Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1994 936 
			 1995 1,012 
			 1996 1,174 
			 1997 1,204 
			 1998 1,349 
			 1999 1,471 
			 2000 1,571 
			 2001 1,535 
			 2002 1,430 
			 2003 1,294 
		
	
	(3)Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for 1994 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Yl4 from 2001 onwards.
	(4)Includes deaths where the underlying cause was drug-related poisoning and a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 was mentioned on the death record.
	(5)Figures are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.

Economic Inactivity (Beverley and Holderness)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Beverley and Holderness under the age of 25 years were economically inactive in each year since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 23 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question concerning economic inactivity. (44318)
	The Office for National Statistics compiles statistics of inactivity for local areas from the annual local area Labour Force Survey (LFS) and the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation definitions.
	The attached table shows the numbers of inactive people aged 16 to 24, resident in the Beverley and Holderness constituency, for the 12 month periods ending February 1998 to February 2004 from the annual local area LFS, and for the 12 months ending March 2005 from the APS. The table also shows the figures as a percentage of the resident population aged 16 to 24.
	These estimates, as with any from sample surveys, are subject to a margin of uncertainty. Changes in the estimates from year to year should be treated with particular caution.
	
		Number of economically inactive persons aged 16 to 24 resident in the Beverley and Holderness parliamentary constituency
		
			  Economically inactive persons aged 16 to 24 
			 Twelve months ending: Level (thousand) Rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 February 1998 3 32 
			 February 1999 3 31 
			 February 2000 1 14 
			 February 2001 2 28 
			 February 2002 2 39 
			 February 2003 2 20 
			 February 2004 2 27 
			 March 2005 4 40 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Estimates are subject to sampling variability.
	2.Changes from year-to-year should be treated with particular caution.
	Source:
	Annual local area Labour Force Survey; Annual Population Survey.

EU Committees

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many meetings of the EU (a) Contact Committee on certain schemes for collective investment in securities, (b) Contact Committee: European economic interest grouping and (c) Accounting Directives Contact Committee have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; what other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representations of the devolved governments; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: The Contact Committee on certain schemes for collective investment in securities has been wound up and its work taken over by the European Securities Committee. Financial services is a reserved matter for the UK Government and Treasury officials represent the UK at ESC meetings. HM Treasury has regular contacts with significant financial services centres throughout the UK to inform the position of the UK at these meetings.
	There were no meetings of the Contact Committee on European Economic Interest Groups during the UK presidency.
	The Contact Committee on the Accounting Directives has now been amalgamated with the Accounting Regulatory Committee. The Committee met three times during the UK Presidency. Meetings were chaired by the European Commission. The UK is represented by officials from the Department of Trade and Industry.

EU Meetings

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list EU meetings of (a) heads of state and (b) government that he has attended in the company of the Prime Minister since June 1997.

John Healey: In normal circumstances the Prime Minister represents the UK at European Councils, accompanied by the Foreign Secretary. The Chancellor of the Exchequer represents the UK at the Economic and Financial Affairs Council.
	In addition, Finance Ministers also occasionally attend the spring European Council which focuses on EU Economic Reform.

Gershon Review

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a break down by (a) Department and (b) activity of the 4.7 billion efficiency savings as a result of the Gershon Review announced in the pre-Budget report.

Des Browne: This information is available in departmental Autumn Performance Reports that have been published and in forthcoming Departmental Reports which all departments are required to publish by April.
	
		Table 2: Efficiency Gains Reported to September 2005, by workstream
		
			 Workstream Total gains reported ( million) 
		
		
			 Procurement 1,978 
			 Productive Time 894 
			 Policy, Funding and Regulation 520 
			 Corporate Services 288 
			 Transactions 113 
			 Other(6) 942 
			 Total 4,735 
		
	
	(6)SR04 efficiencies where Departments have not specified an allocation to a Gershon workstream.

Insurance Premium Tax

Gregory Barker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from insurance companies under investigation for alleged fraud regarding the insurance premium tax.

Dawn Primarolo: The Treasury has received no such representations.

Local Pay Arrangements

Michael Fallon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the Government Departments that operate local pay arrangements, excluding London weighting.

Des Browne: Departments and agencies have authority to determine pay and conditions for their staff below the Senior Civil Service, which are appropriate to their business needs and which take account of Government policies on public sector pay. Under these arrangements Departments and agencies are required to submit a Pay Remit to Treasury outlining its proposals for increases in pay.
	Departments and agencies are expected to ensure that their pay systems reflect the local labour markets in which they operate. However as a consequence of delegated pay no centrally collected list exists of the number of Government Departments that operate local pay arrangements excluding London Weighting.

Online Gambling Companies

Hugo Swire: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was paid by online gambling companies in the last year for which figures are available.

John Healey: Separate figures for the amount of tax paid by online gambling companies are not available.

Private Finance Initiative Scheme

John Hemming: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations are performed to compare the costs of a private finance initiative scheme with traditional funding schemes from public sector borrowing.

John Healey: The required analysis for comparing whether a given project would be value for money using PFI compared with conventional funding is laid out in the Value for Money Guidance and the accompanying Quantitative User Guide, published in August 2004. These can be found on the HM Treasury website at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/documents/public_private_ partnerships/key_documents/ppp_keydocs_vfm.cfm

Private Members' Clubs

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) working men's clubs and (b) other private members' clubs there were in England in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 23 January 2006
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question concerning how many (a)working men's clubs and (b) other private members' clubs there were in England in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority. (43532)
	Working men's clubs are included within the standard industrial classification (SIC) for licensed clubs. Private members' clubs are included within activities of other membership organisations not elsewhere classified. I am placing a table in the House of Commons Library showing the figures for licensed clubs (SIC 55401) and for activities of other membership organisations (SIC 91330).
	These figures are based on the criteria used in the National Statistics publication UK Business: Activity, Size and Location for 2005, published on the National Statistics website: www.statistics.gov.uk/ukbusiness, and relate to the number of local units operated by businesses registered for VAT as at March 2005.
	All figures have been rounded to the nearest five to avoid disclosure.

Tax Arrears

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) charges interest on tax arrears determined following reviews of tax accounts, from a date prior to that on which HMRC (a) determined and (b) informed the liable person that such arrears existed; if he will amend this practice so that interest on tax arrears is only charged from the point that the liable person could reasonably first have made payment; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Interest is not a penalty, and is charged in order to recompense the Exchequer where tax is paid later than the due date. In that, it is like any commercial interest. Interest applies whatever the reason for the delayed payment, and I cannot accept the case for different dates applying depending on the reason payment was not made on time.

Tax Credits

Greg Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 556W, on tax credit, whether an estimate was made by his Department in advance of the pre-Budget report of the prospective cost of the increase in the disregard from 2,500 to 25,000.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) and the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 13 December 2005, Official Report, column 1836W.

Tax Credits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department have administered each tax credit in each year since their introduction; and what the cost of administering each tax credit in each year has been.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is not available in the format requested.

Transformation Fund

Paul Goodman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which local authorities have received support from the Transformation Fund since its inception; and how much each has received.

Beverley Hughes: I have been asked to reply.
	The Transformation Fund was announced in the 200405 pre-Budget report. It will provide 125 million in each of 200607 and 200708 to invest in the professional development of the child care work force. The fund takes effect from April 2006 and therefore no local authorities have yet received support from it.

VAT

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much tax revenue would change as a result of an increase in VAT of (a) 1 per cent., (b) 2 per cent., (c) 3 per cent. and (d) 4 per cent.

Dawn Primarolo: Effects of illustrative changes in VAT rates are published in Table 6 of the Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs, which can be found at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/FA1/96/pbr05_ taxreadyreckoner_223.pdf and is published annually alongside the pre-Budget report. A hard copy can be found in the House of Commons' Library.

VAT

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what items are exempt from VAT.

Dawn Primarolo: VAT exemption applies to a wide range of goods and services. Among the major categories are certain supplies of, or related to: land; insurance; financial services; postal services; education; health andwelfare; charities; burial and cremation; betting and gaming; admission to certain cultural bodies; and subscriptions to trade unions and professional and public interest bodies.
	The full list of supplies of goods and services which are exempt from VAT can be found in schedule 9 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 which is reproduced in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) Notice 701/39, 'VAT liability law', which can found on HMRC's website at www.hmrc.gov.uk

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2005, Official Report, column 278, on Afghanistan, when he expects the applied research programme to publish its conclusions on alternative livelihoods for poppy-growing Afghan farmers.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 17 January 2006
	The DFID funded Research in Alternative Livelihoods Fund (RALF), is identifying innovative opportunities that add to the range of options available to rural people in different parts of Afghanistan.
	The field research commenced during 2005, and will continue until the end of 2006, Publication and dissemination of the results of that research will take place thereafter. Dissemination outputs will be targeted to local institutions and Afghan research and development agencies, presenting research findings in a readily accessible form.
	Although research, especially looking at agricultural commodities, takes time to show results, there are encouraging signs that the projects funded by RALF will translate into practicable recommendations to improve incomes or food security, or provide alternative employment. DFID is planning a mid-term review of this programme in March 2006. The report of this review will be posted on the RALF website www.icarda.cgiar.org/RALFweb/RALF.htm.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to provide alternative cash crops for opium producers in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: DFID leads the British Government's efforts to develop alternative livelihoods in Afghanistan. In the financial year of 200506, DFID is to spend over 45 million for this purpose. This is an almost tenfold increase on the amount spent in 200304. In the financial year of 200607, spending is expected to continue at similar levels.
	A proportion of this funding will continue to be specifically targeted on improving agricultural opportunities for Afghan farmers. This includes research to help identify, test and implement new crops and technologies. Innovative ways for farmers to make a living are also being pursued. Examples include apricot drying, honey bee keeping, and the introduction of fruit tree nurseries and greenhouses for vegetable production. DFID has also jointly funded, with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a $25 million nationwide programme to increase access by over 500,000 farmers to seeds and fertiliser for alternative crops.
	At the same time as developing agricultural opportunities, and in the interests of sustainability, it is important to also develop non-farm alternative livelihoods. DFID will continue to support activities which identify sustainable economic alternatives and social incentives to enable farmers to stop growing poppy.

Civil Servants (Retirement)

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the cost of the enhanced early retirement scheme for civil servants in his Department and its agencies was in each year from 199798 to 200405; what the estimated cost is for each year from 200506 to 200708; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The cost to The Department for International Development (DFID) of early departures is as follows:
	
		
			  Cost () 
		
		
			 199798 926,268 
			 199899 494,903 
			 19992000 620,471 
			 200001 422,910 
			 200102 562,967 
			 200203 581,708 
			 200304 1,639,414 
			 200405 1,257,039 
			 200506(7) 1,039,270 
			 200607(7) 965,565 
			 200708(7) 570,464 
		
	
	(7)Estimated costs based on expenditure arising from existing commitments.

Commission for Africa

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms his Department has in place to implement the relevant recommendations of the Commission for Africa.

Hilary Benn: The Recommendations of the Commission for Africa report have been adopted as Government policy. Many of the recommendations are being taken forward through DFID's bilateral development programmes, through its contributions to multilateral agencies and through joint initiatives with other donor and African partners, such as the recently launched Africa Infrastructure Consortium. Other recommendations are directed at Africa and its leaders, and DFID is encouraging them to take action.
	In addition, through its presidency of the G8 in 2005, the UK has built broader commitment to key recommendations, such as increasing aid and debt relief. Progress against these commitments will be monitored, reviewed and reported through a joint action plan, currently being developed.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list the items valued at over 100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by his Department in the past 12 months.

Gareth Thomas: The items reported as stolen from DFID buildings over the last year, valued at over 100, are as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Compaq IPAC pocket PC 1 
			 Lamp posts 4 
			 Bicycles 3 
			 Laptop computers 6

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was by (i) his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C)other public body for which his Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506 in each case.

Hilary Benn: In accordance with Government accounting policy, DFID does not normally insure its buildings or staff. The following figures are for expenditure on its headquarters buildings in UK only.
	
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200203 8,748,344 
			 200304 8,720,705 
			 200405 9,668,959 
			 200506 (Forecast) 9,450,000 
		
	
	Information on overseas offices is not held centrallyand cannot be obtained without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	DFID is not responsible for any other non-departmental public bodies (NDPB)s or agencies, but is responsible for CDC (formerly Commonwealth Development Corporation), a self-financing public corporation, based in London. The relevant figures for CDC are:
	
		
		
			  Buildings Insurance 
		
		
			 2003 613,700 759,600 
			 2004 963,600 648,700 
			 2005 (Forecast) 262,000 308,000 
			 2006 (Budget) 271,000 340,000

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

Gareth Thomas: DIFD's Disciplinary Procedures are fully compliant with UK legislation and apply to civil servants working in the UK and overseas. We also apply them to our locally appointed staff overseas who work under local contracts, unless local law dictates otherwise.
	The procedure covers dismissal and other disciplinary proceedings in respect of:
	Unacceptable behaviour (misconduct). In the event of gross misconduct, the individual may be summarily dismissed.
	Poor or unacceptable performance (capability).
	The sanctions which may be applied are (this is a non exhaustive list): a written warning; a final written warning; dismissal with notice; dismissal without notice (summary dismissal). In serious cases, the penalties may also include downgrading or redeployment, stoppage of future performance pay, and a ban on promotion or consideration for a specified period.
	We did not hold a central record of disciplinary action for all staff until October 2004 so the statistics include our best estimate of cases prior to this date.
	
		
			  Commenced Disciplinary action taken 
		
		
			 2001 5 5 
			 2002 12 11 
			 2003 3 2 
			 2004 3 2 
			 2005 10 9 
			 Total 33 29

Ethiopia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make a statement on his Department's proposed review of UK aid to Ethiopia.

Hilary Benn: I visited Ethiopia on 18 January and met Prime Minister Meles. I expressed my deep concern over recent political events in Ethiopia and told the Prime Minister that the UK, together with all other budget support donors, will not at present provide general budget support which the Ethiopian Government can use for any purpose.
	However, we remain committed to supporting poor people in Ethiopia. We are working with other donors and Government to design a new mechanism for providing funds in a more transparent and accountable way, so that basic services such as education and health and water can continue to be provided throughout the country.

Gaza/West Bank

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to visit Gaza and the occupied West Bank in the next four months.

Hilary Benn: I have no current plans to do so.

Gleneagles Commitments

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms he has in place for his Department to follow up the donor commitments made by the G8 member countries at Gleneagles in 2005.

Hilary Benn: The Government are committed to ensuring that G8 pledges made at Gleneagles are implemented. DFID is involved in the implementation of specific initiatives: for example, the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa and the Investment Climate Facility. DFID is also working with others to ensure effective monitoring mechanisms to hold governments to account for delivery of their commitments and to assess results.
	At a national level, the Gleneagles Implementation Plan sets out the milestones the UK believes need to be achieved in 2006 to set us on the right track for delivery of the Gleneagles' commitments. This Plan has been placed in the Libraries of the House and will be updated monthly to show further progress. At the international level, the Africa Partnership Forum (APF) will monitor, review and report progress against the respective commitments by Africa and its development partners (not just the G8), on the basis of a Joint Action Plan now being developed. As one of the 2005 APF Co-Chairs, DFID, on behalf of the UK, has been closely involved in the development of this Plan and we remain fully committed to this process. We are also supporting the Archbishop of Cape Town's proposal for an 'African Monitor', which will track the implementation of commitments, and their impact, through a network of civil society groups.

HIV/AIDS (Paediatric Care)

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the written answer on 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 210W, on HIV/AIDS, what discussions (a) have taken place and (b) are planned with the Global Steering Committee to ensure that children will receive paediatric drugs by 2010.

Hilary Benn: The UK is co-chair of the Global Steering Committee on Scaling up Towards Universal Access, (GSC) which is due to report to the UN General Assembly High Level meeting in June 2006. The GSC is considering the obstacles to scaling up comprehensive AIDS programmes, including access to treatment.
	Early discussions have already highlighted the need to unblock obstacles to treatment for children, including the lack of adequate diagnostics and treatments for children, and the poor disaggregation by age and gender of reporting on treatment.
	The GSC, which met for the first time on 9 and 10 January, is expected to meet twice more, in February and March, before finalising in April its report to the UN General Assembly High Level meeting in early June.
	The UK is hosting with UNICEF, the Global Partners Forum on Children Affected by HIV and AIDS (GPF) in early February. One of the six streams of the GPF is access to treatment and care for children with HIV and AIDS. Discussions at the Global Partners Forum will feed into the work of the Global Steering Committee.

Identity Fraud

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what training the Department has provided for (a) front desk and (b) administrative staff in relation to identity fraud.

Gareth Thomas: Fraud awareness, including identity fraud is included in the induction training for all staff appointed by DFID.
	In relation to front desk staff, all visitors to the Department have to be identified and then accompanied by a member of staff throughout their visit.
	Guidelines are in place for administrative staff carrying out identity checks as part of the appointment and security clearance procedures for all new staff. These include sight of passports, birth certificates and other data that are checked as part of our security vetting process.

Inter-ministerial Meetings

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many inter-ministerial meetings his Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999; and what the (a) Scottish Executive department concerned, (b) subject and (c) date was in each case.

Gareth Thomas: Ministers have regular dialogues with ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Executive, discussing a wide range of issues of mutual interest. It is not our practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Millennium Development Goals

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what public service agreements his Department is now relating to the millennium development goals.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development's public service agreement (PSA) 200508, has the overall aim of 'eliminating poverty in poorer countries, in particular through achievement by 2015 of the millennium development goals' (MDGs).
	The PSA contains six targets and 13 sub-targets. Targets one and two are directly linked to the MDGs, seeking progress towards the MDGs in 16 key countries in Africa and nine key countries in Asia. The sub-targets seek a reduction in the proportion of people living in poverty, an increase in primary school enrolment and in the ratio of girls to boys enrolled in primary school, a reduction in under-five mortality rates, an increase in the proportion of births assisted by skilled birth attendants, and the achievement of targets on HIV and tuberculosis, all of which tie in with the first six MDGs.
	Target three on improving the effectiveness of the multilateral system, target four on improving trading opportunities, target six on ensuring that at least 90 per cent. of DFID's bilateral programme goes to low-income countries and the Africa sub-target on enhancing partnership to increase the effectiveness of aid and ensure that international policies support African development, all feed into MDG eight on developing a global partnership for development.

Millennium Development Goals

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanisms he is setting in place for an annual evaluation of progress towards the millennium development goals.

Hilary Benn: Progress against the Department for International Development's public service agreement (PSA) targets, which tie in to the millennium development goals, is assessed twice-yearly in DFID's autumn performance reports and departmental reports. The most recent analysis of progress against the Department for International Development's public service agreement (PSA) targets for the period 2003 to 2006 was published, in the Autumn Performance Report 2005, which was laid before Parliament on 9 December 2005. It is available both in hard copy in the Libraries of the House and electronically on DFID's website:
	http://www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/autumnperfreport05.pdf
	The Technical Note to DFID's 200508 public service agreement provides full details of the indicators and methodologies which are used to monitor performance against the targets. The Technical Note is available on DFID's website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/PSA/technicalnotes.pdf
	Updated assessments of performance against all PSA targets and sub-targets will be provided in DFID's Departmental Report 2006, which is expected to be published in May.
	The UK Government are supporting the proposed International Development (Transparency and Reporting) Bill. When enacted, this will require DFID to place an annual report before Parliament setting out the UK Government's policies and use of resources in support of international development, including achievement of the millennium development goals. DFID welcomes the Bill and is actively supporting its development.

Overseas Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether it is his policy to find other mechanisms to fund pro-poor policies in those countries that have had budgetary support suspended or reduced as a consequence of actions by the recipient government.

Hilary Benn: It is DFID policy to seek other ways to fund poverty reduction efforts in countries where budget support has been suspended or reduced.
	DFID may decide to suspend or reduce budget support if we think that a partner government has breached its partnership commitments. DFID will consider a range of responses, including to change the way we deliver our aid to government and/or to switch some or all of our aid away from government to non-government channels.
	In deciding how to respond to a breach, DFID will consider the impact that any decision will have on poor people and longer term poverty reduction efforts. For example in Uganda, at the end of 2005, DFID decided to re-allocate 15 million to humanitarian assistance in northern Uganda provided through the UN. In Ethiopia in 2005, DFID decided to suspend budget support due to election related violence and detention of the opposition. Instead we plan to channel the aid through a safety net programme for the most vulnerable people, and support to service delivery by local government.

Overseas Aid

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to which countries offered budgetary support, where budgetary support has subsequently been suspended or refused; and what the reasons were in each case.

Hilary Benn: In 200506, DFID formally committed to provide Poverty Reduction Budget Support (PRBS) (which includes both budget support which is provided to finance implementation of the poverty reduction strategy, and budget support earmarked to specific sectors within governments' programmes) to the Governments of Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.
	Thus far, in 200506, the PRBS has been either fully or partially suspended in Ethiopia and Uganda.
	In Ethiopia, 50 million of general budget support was suspended following election related violence and the detention of opposition.
	In Uganda, of the 50 million general budget support planned, 15 million was suspended due to a significant overspend on public administration and concerns about the political transition and prospects for a free and fair election.

Palestinian Authority

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he has taken to monitor the expenditure of development aid within the Palestinian authority to ensure that it does not (a) support and (b) sustain terrorist-related activities.

Hilary Benn: holding answer 18 January 2006
	The UK Government absolutely condemns all acts of terrorism and takes concern over the use of UK aid very seriously. The UK Government are committed to ensuring that all UK development assistance is properly accounted for, used for the intended purposes and represents value for money.
	Since 2004, all DFID financial support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) budget has been provided through a Reform Trust Fund managed by the World Bank. Funding is conditional on the achievement of benchmarks for reform, progress against which is carefully monitored. The benchmarks cover the PA's audit and accounting processes as well as issues such as pension reform, the wage bill and the PA's budget process. The benchmarks require that the PA submit its annual financial statements to the Palestinian Legislative Council and be independently audited. This is intended to ensure legitimate usage of PA funds and that taxpayers' funds achieve value for money.
	DFID, along with the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other donors that provide budget support, undertake twice-yearly reviews of the PA's progress against its reform benchmarks and maintain close contact with the PA at all times. DFID and other Trust Fund donors have made it clear to the PA that it would be unacceptable if PA budgetary resources were used in any way that supported or condoned terrorism and that budget support would be suspended in such an event.
	Other forms of DFID assistance to the Palestinian people are channelled through organisations whose accounts are independently audited.

Priority Countries (Funding)

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State forInternational Development how much funding has been allocated to budget support for each of his Department's 20 priority countries; and how much of that funding has been allocated to (a) health and (b) education.

Hilary Benn: DFID does not have a classification list of priority countries as such but in our public service agreement we do have a number of key countries in Africa and Asia, 25 in total, in which we monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. These countries have been chosen because they are DFID partner countries with high numbers of poor people and receive the largest proportions of total DFID spending in these continents.
	These countries are set out in the following table along with the amounts of poverty reduction budget support received over the past five years. The amount of budget support allocated to the specific sectors of health and education are detailed in the second table but the majority of this funding is provided as general budget support and not allocated to any specific sector.
	
		Poverty reduction budget support for DFID PSA countries --  million
		
			  200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Africa  
			 Congo (Dem Rep) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Ethiopia 0 0 10 20 45 
			 Ghana 40 25 20 25 35 
			 Kenya 15 0 0 0 0 
			 Lesotho 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Malawi 30 12.5 0 10 15 
			 Mozambique 15.7 25.7 14.7 20.3 35.8 
			 Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Rwanda 25.4 18 22 18.8 34.3 
			 Sierra Leone 19.5 10 10 10 12 
			 South Africa 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sudan 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Tanzania 40 35 45 60 65 
			 Uganda 60 47 29.5 30 35 
			 Zambia 15 0 0 4 13 
			 Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 Asia  
			 Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bangladesh 0 0 6.6 0 29.8 
			 Cambodia 0 0 0 0 0 
			 China 0 0 0 0 0 
			 India 0 65 30 75 51.3 
			 Indonesia 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Nepal 0 0 0 0 2.1 
			 Pakistan 0 20 20 50 7.5 
			 Vietnam 0 0 0 10 20 
		
	
	
		Sector allocated expenditure on Health and Education through PRBS --  million
		
			  200001 200102 200203 
			  Health Education Health Education Health Education 
		
		
			 Mozambique 5.7  5.7 0 4.7 0 
			 Uganda 0 15 0 12 0 12 
			 Gambia 0  0 0 0 0 
			 India 0  0 0 0 0 
			 Nepal 0  0 0 0 0 
			 Pakistan 0  0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		 million
		
			  200304 200405 
			  Health Education Health Education 
		
		
			 Mozambique 5.3 0 5.3 0 
			 Uganda 0 0 0 0 
			 Gambia 0 4 0 4 
			 India 0 20 0 51.3 
			 Nepal 0 0 0 2.1 
			 Pakistan 15 0 7.5 0

Private Members' Bills

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will list private Members' Bills introduced (a) under Standing Order No. 14(6), (b) Standing Order No. 23 and (c) Standing Order No. 57 which were (i) supported and (ii) opposed by his Department in each session since 199798.

Hilary Benn: In July 2005, the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash) introduced the International Development (Anti-corruption Audit) Bill under Standing Order 57. This was tabled for Second Reading on 14 October and again on 28 October but was not reached. In 200203 and 200304 no private Members' Bills were introduced which fell under the departmental responsibility of DFID. No information is held about private Members' Bills presented prior to this time.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the United Kingdom aid budget to sub-Saharan Africa excluding debt cancellation was for (a) the 2005 calendar year and (b) financial year 200405; and what the expected budget is for 200506.

Hilary Benn: In 200405 the UK's gross public expenditure on development in sub-Sarahan Africa amounted to 1.18 billion. This figure is reported in table 11 in our annual publication, Statistics in International Development (SID).
	Of this figure, 269.8 million represents debt relief to countries in sub-Sarahan Africa. This comprises of: 246.6 million for the Export Credit Guarantee Department (ECGD), 9 million for CDC (see SID Table 24), 1.7 million for DFID (see SID Table 12.1) and 12.5 million in payments to allow 100 per cent. cancellation of ECGD loans and reimbursements under the Hold in Trust policy (see SID Table 23).
	This means that in total, the UK channelled 911 million of bilateral assistance to sub-Sarahan Africa, if bilateral debt relief of all forms is excluded. Note that the UK also spent money in Africa via multilateral agencies, however this amount is not disaggregated to show how much went to Africa. The UK also made a payment to the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) trust fund amounting to 42.1 million in 200405 for the cancellation of multilateral debt.
	Aid can also be reported according to the international classification 'official development assistance' (ODA). This is undertaken on a calendar year basis. In 2004 (the latest year for which data are available), the UK ODA expenditure for sub-Sarahan Africa was 1.236 billion of which 387 million was debt relief. Excluding debt relief, the total ODA for sub-Sarahan Africa was 849 million.
	The target for the bilateral programme (excluding debt relief) for 200506 in sub-Sarahan Africa is 1billion.

Sudan

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions the Government are taking to help people of Southern Sudan.

Hilary Benn: DFID is helping the people of Southern Sudan in a variety of ways. First and foremost we are working to ensure that peace and security is sustained, through strong political support for the 9 January 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and for the deployment of UN peace-keepers. DFID is also providing immediate practical assistance to help establish the new Government of South Sudan and strengthen the capacity of the police and legal system there.
	On the humanitarian front, DFID is providing approximately 27 million a year through UN agencies and NGOs to help meet the urgent needs of the existing population, and those returning from other areas. This is providing food and shelter, and access to basic services such as water and sanitation, health care and education. Over two million people remain displaced from Southern Sudan, many in camps around Khartoum, and with others we are pressing to ensure that their rights are protected.
	DFID is also helping to fund longer-term development needs in the south, including infrastructure, by our support for the Multi-donor Trust Fund, to which we have committed approximately 24 million over three years.

Water and Sanitation (Funding)

Dari Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to his answer of 14 November 2005, Official Report, column 871W, on water and sanitation (funding), what agreements were made by EU member states at the December European Council on allocations of aid.

Hilary Benn: The 1516 December European Council endorsed the European Consensus on Development that was agreed by EU Development Ministers on 22 November at the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC). In May 2005, member states made commitments that should see annual EU aid double to over 66 billion per year by 2010.
	The first part of the consensus sets out a common development vision to guide all EU member states development co-operation activities. Under the consensus, least developed and low income countries will be given priority in terms of overall resource allocation. It states that resources will be allocated in an objective and transparent way, based on the needs and performance of the beneficiary countries, taking into account specific situations.
	Part 2 of the consensus sets out the revised EC Development Policy Statement to guide EC aid. It makes clear that the Community will apply all the principles in Part 1. It also provides more detail on needs criteria and performance criteria. The needs criteria include population, income per capita and the extent of poverty, income distribution and the level of social development. The performance criteria include political, economic and social progress, progress in good governance and the effective use of aid. The 22 November GAERC also asked the Commission and member states to publish aid projections by type and country over the next three years and possibly over a longer period.
	The European consensus states that investing in areas including health, water management and infrastructure are among the top priorities for combating poverty. Part2 sets out the aims of the EC's 'integrated water resources management' policy framework which is designed to ensure a supply of sufficient, good quality drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene for all human beings.
	The December European Council also adopted the EU-Africa Strategy. The strategy re-emphasised the EU's commitment to facilitate access to water and sanitation in Africa.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when his Department will publish a full Country Assistance Plan for Yemen.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development is planning to publish its Country Assistance Plan for Yemen by July 2006.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to help improve literacy of women in Yemen.

Gareth Thomas: Improving female literacy rates is one of the main objectives of the Government of Yemen's Basic Education Development Strategy. Currently 73.5 per cent. of Yemeni women are illiterate, one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world. The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing 15 million over five years to support this strategy through a project co-funded with the World Bank and other donors. The project aims to increase the number of girls enrolled in basic education by 23 per cent. and the number of girls completing basic education by 30 per cent. by 2010. This will be done by helping increase girls' access to school, including by providing more girls only classrooms and female teachers.
	To help keep girls in school, the project will enable parents to have greater involvement in school management, and provide community based adult literacy classes, as evidence shows that adult literacy has a major impact on pupil attendance and performance. The project also aims to improve the quality of education through improvements to teacher training, curriculum development, and education policy, planning, and implementation. This should contribute to better learning outcomes, including higher rates of female literacy.
	DFID is also providing 12 million to the Yemen Social Fund for Development (SFD) over four years which provides community level development. Approximately half of the SFD's funds are used to improve access to and quality of education, with a strong focus on girls education.
	DFID has also funded Yemeni participation in regional adult literacy workshops in Algeria and Cairo as part of the G8-Broader Middle East Partnership for Progress that has adult literacy as one of its key themes.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of water shortages in Yemen; and what steps his Department plans to take to help alleviate water shortages.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) recognises that the rapid depletion and mismanagement of water resources are a major threat to Yemen's development and future stability. Yemen receives relatively little aid in relation to its levels of poverty, and few donors are operating in Yemen. To improve the effectiveness of the aid which Yemen receives, DFID is helping the Government of Yemen and donors to improve the co-ordination of donor aid and persuade donors to support Government of Yemen policies rather than unco-ordinated projects. An important part of improving aid effectiveness is that donors focus their assistance in a few areas, and do not duplicate assistance from other donors.
	The Yemeni Ministry of Water and Environment has, with donor support, developed a National Water Sector Strategy and Investment Plan (NWSSIP) which is a comprehensive assessment of Yemen's water sector and an action plan to improve water management. Donors, (including the UK) and Government of Yemen, have signed a declaration of support for NWSSIP. DFID also encouraged the Government of Yemen to include the NWSSIP into its new plan for tackling overall development and poverty reduction, to help ensure that water management is considered in other areas of government policy. This ensures sector needs are reflected in planning and budget allocations.
	The World Bank, the German and the Dutch Governments are providing substantive assistance to the water sector in Yemen, allowing DFID to focus on other areas. We do however help to improve water management through our contributions to the Social Fund for Development (12 million over four years) which provides community level development including improving water supply and sanitation to the poorest communities. We recognise the importance of strengthened donor engagement including helping the government develop better policies. We are therefore considering support to finance a water specialist to the World Bank office in Sana'a.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment his officials have made of the poverty reduction strategy in Yemen.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development is providing 3 million over three years in support of the Yemen poverty reduction strategy (PRS). This includes actively supporting development of the 3rdPRS (which is known as the Development Plan for Poverty Reduction-DPPR).
	DFID officials assess the content and implementation of the PRS/ DPPR at key stages; for example, when the Government releases a monitoring report, and in response to the needs assessment for the DDPR, which will be based on the Millennium Development Goals. Together with other donors, we will also assess the content of the DPPR when it is released and throughout its implementation. Concerns we have raised include the need to strengthen:
	links between the PRS/ DPPR and a comprehensive, transparent budget;
	strategies to address political and social exclusion, gender inequality, and severe poverty;
	attention to governance reforms and under-emphasised fields such as justice;
	evidence of impacts of the PRS in key sectors such as health and education; and
	indicators on which to gauge progress.
	In addition to our assessments of the PRS/ DPPR, DFID's support is particularly geared to enabling Yemenis themselves to assess and influence these strategies. Through Oxfam and other partners, we are supporting civil society groups to: shape the content of the plans; ensure that they are in the interests of the poor and promote gender equality; and monitor and hold the Government accountable for delivering on the commitments they contain.

Yemen

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which projects his Department supports for the promotion of (a) democracy and (b) transparency of civic institutions in Yemen.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development's programme in Yemen focuses on supporting the development of a more stable, responsive, and accountable state. This includes enabling Yemeni citizens to contribute to how government services are delivered, and holding the Government accountable for their quality.
	DFID is directly supporting the promotion of democracy and transparent civic institutions through provision of 900,000 for improving the effectiveness of the Supreme Commission for Elections and Referenda (SCER), which is responsible for administering elections in Yemen and ensuring that they are free and fair.
	Presidential and local council elections will be held in Yemen in September 2006. DFID's funding will be used to provide expert advice in how to prepare and conduct elections, including helping to improve legislation to ensure good management of the electoral process and to train SCER staff in administration of elections. It will also be used to help increase participation, particularly by women, in the electoral process and political life through a public information campaign conducted by the SCER in cooperation with civil society organisations.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what measures are in place to monitor the application of British Government aid in Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: DFID channels its support to the people of Zimbabwe through United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations, rather than providing direct support to the Government of Zimbabwe.
	All proposals for DFID funding are subject to rigorous scrutiny, particularly with regard to the target group affected by the intervention in question, transparency of funding mechanisms and the presence of robust monitoring and evaluation systems. DFID Zimbabwe requires regular reporting from partner organisations and carries out its own monitoring and evaluation exercises on a regular, generally quarterly or six-monthly, basis. In cases where partner organisations are funded in instalments, funding is contingent upon evidence that previous contributions from DFID have been disbursed in the manner agreed in our formal agreement with that organisation.

Zimbabwe

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much money the British Government gave under their aid programme in Zimbabwe to (a) the Republic Police Grant, (b) the Zimbabwe Republic Police Organisation Development, (c) the UK/Zimbabwe Air Traffic Control Radar, (d) Land Rovers ATP and (e) LANPOL Police ATP in each year between 1997 and 2001.

Hilary Benn: The following table shows how much money the UK Government gave under their aid programme in Zimbabwe to the following programmes between 1997 and 2001.
	The Republic Police Grant and the Zimbabwe Republic Police Organisation Development programme are one and the same.
	
		Expenditure by UK financial year -- 000
		
			 Programme title 199607 199708 199809 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Zimbabwe Republic Police Organisation Development 8 90 741 741 96  
			 Air Traffic Control Radar Phase 2 Monitoring ConsultancyCivil Aviation Authority 83 115 88 39 19  
			 Aid-and-Trade Provision Supply of 300 Land Rovers 224 62 
			 Land Rovers for Zimbabwe Republic Police Aid-and- Trade Provision Project   5,354 1,355 24 (8)-49 
		
	
	(8)Indicates that amount was returned to DFID.
	DFID suspended development assistance to Zimbabwe in 2002, in protest at continuing disregard for democratic principles and mismanagement of the economy by the Government of Zimbabwe. Since that time, DFID has only supported the international response to the humanitarian and HIV/AIDS crisis in Zimbabwe, through funding to United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations.

Zimbabwe

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps the Government will be taking to help alleviate the effects of the recent cholera outbreak in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Hilary Benn: There have been several outbreaks of cholera across Zimbabwe in the past two months, which is not unusual at this time of year. In Harare, there have been five suspected cases with three deaths. There have been other outbreaks, including in the Chikomba district (219 suspected cases and seven deaths), and the Buhera district (51 suspected cases and three deaths). While the Harare figures remain low by comparison and do not yet constitute an epidemic, the danger of cholera spreading rapidly through urban areas with high population density remains high.
	The Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, supported by the World Health Organisation, has led investigations into suspected cases in Harare and notes that, although many cases have been presented with symptoms suggestive of cholera, only a few have been given a positive diagnosis following laboratory tests.
	The situation so far is under control. DFID is in contact with the World Health Organisation and UNICEF who are monitoring the situation closely. DFID has funded an emergency preparedness project with the Save the Children Fund (UK), who have stocks of cholera kits for deployment, including intravenous fluids, should this be necessary. Should the problem escalate, DFID stands ready to offer additional assistance in the form of funds for procurement of commodities as well as provision of technical expertise according to need.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Leader of the House how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Office (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

Geoff Hoon: No disciplinary action has been taken against civil servants in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons within the last five years.

Ministerial Visits

David Mundell: To ask the Leader of the House further to his oral statement of 17 November 2005, Official Report, column 1115, what the arrangements are for his visit to the Scottish Parliament to discuss Sewel motions.

Geoff Hoon: My visit to the Scottish Parliament has not yet been confirmed.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Early-day Motions

Anthony Steen: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the cost was of printing and administering early day motions in each of the last four parliamentary Sessions.

Nick Harvey: House of Commons printing and publishing charges are calculated in arrears by financial year and are therefore available only in this form. The cost of printing and publishing early day motions (EDMs), to the nearest 1,000, for the last four financial years, has been:
	
		
			  Amount () 
		
		
			 200102 338,000 
			 200203 516,000 
			 200304 573,000 
			 200405 614,000 
		
	
	As a consequence of in House origination and pagination, the cost per printed page has been held at around 60 a page over the past three years, compared to the cost in 200001 of 77 a page.
	Other costs associated with administering EDMs, such as editorial preparation and control, and electronic publishing, are not separately identifiable. The number of EDMs tabled, and the number of signatures added, have risen markedly in the past four years:
	
		
			  Average number of EDMs tabled per week Average number of signatures added per week 
		
		
			 200102 41 2,167 
			 200203 52 2,673 
			 200304 63 3,055 
			 200405 60 3,090

Mail (Security Scanning)

David Drew: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the organisation which is responsible for security scanning mail to the House; on how many occasions the House authorities have made complaints about its work; what assessment has been made of the environmental consequences of the journeys required to process mail; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The performance of the company responsible for security scanning is under constant review with regular meetings being held between representatives of the company and representatives of both Houses of Parliament. A number of teething problems occurred during the first weeks of the new contract last year; these appear to have abated and there has been no cause for complaint in the last two months. Some of the concerns raised were related to the interface between the screening and the mail processes, and both organisations involved have worked hard to improve these. No assessment has been made of the environmental consequences of the journeys required to process the mail, in view of the need for extensive off-site security screening in the current security climate.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Civil Servants

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by her Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

David Lammy: The Department's civil servant salary costs in each year since 1997 are shown in the table:
	
		
			   Salary (000) Salary as percentage of net resource outturn 
		
		
			 199798 8,458 0.29 
			 199899 9,112 0.30 
			 19992000 10,169 0.31 
			 200001 10,654 0.35 
			 200102 12,245 0.38 
			 200203 13,392 0.38 
			 200304 14,488 0.35 
			 200405 15,319 0.40

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii)Executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by her Department in each year since May 1997;
	(2)  if she will list the public relations companies that have had contracts with (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) Executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department andother such organisations since May 1997.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has over 60 sponsored bodies/Executive agencies and the figures for them could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what has been the annual expenditure on vehicles for (a) her Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii)Executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C)each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

David Lammy: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) lease five cars from the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA). Four for our Ministers and one for our permanent secretary.
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has over 60 sponsored bodies/Executive agencies and the figures for them could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of this letter are available in the Library of the House.

Departmental Property

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the items valued at over 100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by her Department in the past 12 months.

David Lammy: In 2005 the items reported stolen, valued at over 100 were: 1 desktop PC and 1 mobile phone.

Departmental Staff (Disciplinary Actions)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in her Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The Department commenced disciplinary actions against eight civil servants during the last five years; one in 200001, one in 200102, four in 200304 and two in 200405. Seven of the disciplinary actions resulted in a sanction being applied.

Departmental Targets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State forCulture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  whether (a) opera, (b) (i) classical, (ii) jazz, (iii) blues and (iv) choral music and (c) folk singing is recorded as participation in an arts activity for the purposes of her Department's Public Service Agreement performance target 3; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether attending a (a) book or poetry reading,(b) street performance, (c) musical, (d) film, (e) cultural festival and (f) carnival is recorded as an attendance for the purposes of her Department's Public Service Agreement performance target 3; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  whether attending a (a) world, (b) dance, (c) rock, (d) alternative, (e) blues, (f) electronica, (g) hip-hop, (h) rap, (i) rhythm and blues, (j) soul, (k) bangra, (l) jungle, (m) punk, (n) folk and (o) choral music event is recorded as an attendance for the purposes of her Department's Public Service Agreement performance target 3; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  whether designing (a) clothes and (b) websites is recorded as participation in an arts activity for the purposes of her Department's Public Service Agreement performance target 3; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  whether (a) directing, (b) stage designing and (c) costume designing for (i) plays, (ii) television programmes and (iii) films is recorded as participation in an arts activity for the purposes of her Department's Public Service Agreement performance target 3; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The information requested can be found in the 200508 Public Service Agreements (PSA) Technical Note, which is on my Department's website at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/global/publications/archive_2005/psa_tech_note.htm
	This Technical Note sets out how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will measure progress towards its PSA targets.

Departmental Targets

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether she has responded to the conclusion in the Statistics Commission's report that her Department's reporting against Public Service Agreement performance target 4 uses low level results from a sample survey which is not taken into account in target setting; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: The Department's Public Service Agreement (PSA) Technical Note publishes information about the data used to measure target 4 and its limitations. The issues raised by the Commission will be considered in the setting of future targets.
	In reporting progress against PSA target 4, the Department does currently produce cumulative averages and trends for HMT as additional background information.
	The target is measured using data from the Office for National Statistics' Annual Business Inquiry. This survey provides detailed information about the industries covered by the target and is the best source available.

Digital Television

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when she estimates digital television will be accessible to all people living in Dundee through household aerials;
	(2)  when she plans to switch off the analogue signal in Dundee.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Government are committed to ensuring that at Digital Switchover everyone in the UK who can currently get the main public service broadcasting channels in analogue form can receive them on digital without needing to pay a subscription.
	Switchover for the Grampian region will happen in the first half of 2010.

Digital Television

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of households in the UK had access to digital television through their household aerial in each of the past three years.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 20 January 2006
	Around 73 per cent. of UK households can access Freeview services via their aerial, with the right equipment. The figure is the same for each of the past three years.

Football Foundation

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what schemes have been financed by the Football Foundation in (a) the Tees Valley and (b) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency area.

Richard Caborn: In the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland area, the Football Foundation has funded four junior kit schemes for schools and is currently considering two applications under the Barclays Spaces for Sport Coaching Pack and one under the Barclaycard Free Kicks schemes.
	To date, the Football Foundation has not funded any schemes in the Tees Valley area.

Gambling

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what information her Department collects on internet-related problem gambling.

Richard Caborn: In 1999, the National Centre for Social Research conducted a study into the prevalence of problem gambling in Britain. It did not include the online gambling sector which was not of sufficient size or maturity to make a statistical impact.
	This summer, the Gambling Commission will be conducting a baseline study into the prevalence of problem gambling in all gambling sectors, including online gambling. This study will be repeated at three-yearly intervals once the Gambling Act 2005 is fully implemented in September 2007.

Gambling

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research she has commissioned on the effects of internet gambling.

Richard Caborn: My Department has commissioned research into attitudes towards gambling, gambling spend and participation in gambling activities. This includes, but is not specific to, online gambling.
	This summer, the Gambling Commission will be conducting a study into the prevalence of problem gambling in all gambling sectors, including online gambling, which will be published before the Gambling Act 2005 is fully implemented in September 2007.

Inter-ministerial Meetings (Scottish Executive)

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many inter-ministerial meetings her Department has held with the Scottish Executive since May 1999; and what the (a) Scottish Executive department concerned, (b) subject and (c) date was of each such meeting.

David Lammy: I am sorry for not replying sooner to the hon. Member's question, tabled on 19 December 2005.
	Ministers have regular dialogues with ministerial colleagues in the Scottish Executive, discussing a wide range of issues of mutual interest. It is not our practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Licensing Act 2003

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the effects of the Licensing Act 2003 on levels of crime and disorder in (a) Gravesham and (b) England and Wales.

Richard Caborn: It is too early to draw any firm conclusions about the impact of the Licensing Act 2003 on the level of crime and disorder. However, there are anecdotal signs of some positive impact from the new flexibility in closing times to reduce flash points at 11pm, and we have received no evidence that licensing law changes have had an adverse impact on accident and emergency facilities.
	The Government will continue to monitor the impact of the new legislation closely, including a programme of evaluation being conducted by the Home Office into the impact of the licensing reforms on crime and disorder.

Olympic Games

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what level of funding has been made available to support youth sport up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 20 January 2006
	In the five years leading up to 2008, DCMS, DfES and lottery investment in PE and school sport will total over 1.5billion. This is being invested in schemes benefiting children and young people through PE, School Sport, Club Links and Coaching.
	In addition, Sport England is funding a number of programmes up to 2009 1 , which will help support and deliver youth sport.
	Examples of these programmes include 100 million Exchequer funding up to 2008 in England for the Community Club Development Programme, to assist National Governing Bodies in developing community sports clubs which increase participation and widen access to sport for groups including young people.
	A further example is the 17 million Exchequer funding allocated to the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme up to 2008 and the 2 million Lottery funding allocated to 2012 scholarships, to support our young medal hopefuls 2 .
	1 DCMS has a three year commitment until 2008 to provide SportEngland and UK Sport with Exchequer funding. Lottery distribution shares within the Sport good cause are fixed until 2009 to allow Sport England and UK Sport to distribute Lottery funding. As such, details of funding commitments beyond 2009 are currently not available.
	2 From 1 April 2006, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and 2012 scholarships will be funded by UK Sport.

Poetry

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps the Arts Council is planning to take to promote poetry in the 2005 to 2008 period; what funding has been allocated for this purpose in the budget for that period; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: Poetry is promoted throughout the 2005 to 2008 period through the 24 Arts Council England (ACE) poetry Regularly Funded Organisations (RFOs). ACE is funding organisations and activity that encourage both writing and reading across all age groups and right across society.
	The following table shows the amount ACE has given to literature RFOs, and within this amount those which focus on poetry. Many literature organisations which may not be poetry specific, do also have a poetry remit.
	
		
		
			  Funding 
			 Art form 200506 200607 200708 
		
		
			 Literature 5,419,289 5,529,656 5,782,567 
			 Poetry 1,759,165 1,617,152 1,612,683

TV Licence

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will end the practice of charging TV licence payers a separate fee for holiday homes and other permanent structures where it is evident that the television could not be viewed simultaneously at both properties.

Richard Caborn: No. The Government have no plans for any changes to the existing licensing requirements for permanent structure second homes.

TV Licence

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total amount raised by the television licence fee has been since it was last reviewed.

Richard Caborn: The current television licence fee settlement was announced in February 2000. Total television licence fee revenue for the financial years 200001 to 200405 inclusive, as recorded in the BBC annual reports and accounts, was 13,301 million. This includes payments to the BBC by the Department for Work and Pensions for free licences issued to people aged 75 or over.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Air Routes (Price Fixing)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to create a more competitive market on air routes between Heathrow and the USA; whether he has made any assessment of price fixing on such routes; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK Government is actively engaged, alongside our EU partners, in negotiations towards an EU-wide Air Services Agreement with the US. Such an agreement could remove existing limitations on services between Heathrow and the US, enabling an unlimited number of services to be operated by any EU or US airline, subject to the availability of appropriate slots. However, no agreement has yet been reached.
	The Department is not aware of any evidence of price fixing on Heathrow-USA routes. It would be for the UK's competition regulator, the Office of Fair Trading, to investigate such matters.

Artists Resale Levy

Gisela Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria were used in setting the level of sales in relation to the artists' resale levy below 3,000; what assessment has been made of the administrative costs of setting the level at this rate; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Government considered all evidence and opinion submitted during consultation and in subsequent discussions with key interests. This included submissions from artists and the art market, the report of House of Commons Select Committee and the most up to date independent economic research. Setting the threshold at 1,000 would allow a large number of UK artists to receive royalties. Below 1,000 the administrative costs do become disproportionate to the benefit to the artist. We have balanced the need to protect our art market with the need to reward artists for their creativity. The draft regulations were laid before this House on 15 December and will be debated in due course.

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of the premises occupied by his Department is fitted with audible fire alarms.

Alan Johnson: All buildings on the DTI HQ estate are fitted with audible fire alarms.

Business Review

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many companies will be required to produce the proposed enhanced Business Review; how many would have been required to produce an Operating and Financial Review; whether all companies operating in the United Kingdom will have to produce such business reviews; and what enhancements to the proposed Business Review will be made.

Alun Michael: Under provisions introduced into the Companies Act 1985 by the Companies Act 1985 (Operating and Financial Review and Directors' Reportetc.) Regulations of March 2005, all GB quoted companies would have been required to produce an Operating and Financial Review. The associated Regulatory Impact Assessment put the number of quoted companies at 1,290.
	Only GB registered companies will be required to produce a Directors' Report including a Business Review, under section 234ZZB of the Companies Act 1985, for financial years beginning on or after 1 April 2005. The Regulatory Impact Assessment accompanying the regulations which introduced the requirement indicated that 37,290 GB companies will have to publish a Directors' Report including a Business Review. This does not include companies which meet the statutory definition of a small company which will not have to include a Business Review.
	As I indicated in my statement to the House before Christmas, the Government are currently inviting views on whether any particular requirements of the Business Review need to be further clarified; and on any other considerations which Ministers should take into account in deciding how to frame suitable amendments for the Company Law Reform Bill on these matters. The consultation closes on 15 February and therefore no decisions have been taken.

Cape Town Treaty

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans the UK Government have to ratify the Cape Town treaty.

Alun Michael: The UK played an active role in negotiations on the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol at the 2001 Diplomatic Conference and is committed to its ratification though there are no immediate plans to do so.
	It should be noted that the convention is one of a number of so-called mixed competence Treaties where conclusion at EU level has been blocked due to disagreement between the UK and Spain over Gibraltar. Spain does not formally recognise Gibraltar competent authorities, because it does not recognise Gibraltar's 1969 constitution. In April 2000, a set of Postboxing Arrangements was concluded, to facilitate communications between Gibraltar authorities and their counterparts elsewhere in the European Union by indirect contact through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. These arrangements were circulated to all member states and the institutions of the EU on 19 April 2000. They laid down how postboxing would operate in relation both to EU instruments and to certain named international conventions. They would only apply to other treaties if both sides agreed. For its part, the UK has also made clear that it would need to obtain the consent of the Government of Gibraltar.

Coal Reserves (Scotland)

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what licences have been granted for (a) the extraction of coal and (b) coal exploration in South Lanarkshire; and in what areas in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: Information on current Coal Authority licences in South Lanarkshire are as follows:
	
		
			 Name Licensee Address 
		
		
			 Broken Cross The Scottish Coal Company Ltd. Lanark 
			 Chapelhill Site The Scottish Coal Company Ltd. Carmacoup 
			 Climpy CRE Energy Ltd. Forth 
			 Dalquhandy Site The Scottish Coal Company Ltd. Bankend, Coalburn 
			 Edge Farm George Raebum East Kilbride 
			 Edge Farm Site George Raeburn East Kilbride 
			 Glentaggart The Scottish Coal Company Ltd. Lanark 
			 Wilsontown Hall Construction Services Ltd. Forth 
		
	
	Other exploration and opencast licences/agreements have been issued by the Coal Authority in South Lanarkshire but these are now expired.

Coal Reserves (Scotland)

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what the total coal reserves are in Scotland;
	(2)  what the total coal reserves are in South Lanarkshire; and in what areas they are situated;
	(3)  what the total coal reserves are in the Douglas and Nethan valleys; in what areas they are situated; and how many tonnes each area has.

Malcolm Wicks: There are no reliable estimates of total potential coal reserves in Scotland.
	50.1 million tonnes of reserves suitable for surface mining are known at existing opencast mines and sites either with planning approval or at the planning application or pre-application stage. 13.3 million tonnes of these reserves are situated in South Lanarkshire. Information is not available concerning such reserves in the Douglas and Nethan valleys.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North sent to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 2 November and transferred to his Department on 11 November was not transferred to the Department for Transport until 6 December; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 15 December 2005
	This letter was held up in the transfer administration process. I apologise to my hon. Friend and to his constituent for the delay.

Correspondence

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to the letter dated 26 October from the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan on Exports to China.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 20 December 2005
	My hon. Friend, the Minister for Trade, replied to this letter on 9 January. The reason for the delay in responding is explained in his letter.

Departmental Buildings/Equipment

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to ensure that the buildings and electrical equipment used by his Department are energy efficient.

Alan Johnson: DTI is working toward achieving the energy efficiency targets expressed in the framework for sustainable development, Part EEnergy. The targets set are to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings on the estate by 15 per cent. in terms of KWH usage and that used per square metre by 201011.
	The DTI London HQ estate is being reduced by approximately 30 per cent. as the result of a major rationalisation programme to make more efficient use of our accommodation with significant associated reductions in the Department's overall energy usage.
	The Department has implemented a number of energy efficiency initiatives since the target was published. The main strategy is to gain efficiencies as a result of the estate strategy to reduce the physical size of the estate and the number of buildings. We have also included a number of energy efficiency projects in our main buildings to improve lighting and environmental controls as well as occupant awareness.

Departmental Publications

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the total cost was of the literature produced for his Department's Corporate Responsibility conference on 1 and 2 December 2005; and what percentage of paper used in this literature was recycled.

Alan Johnson: The total cost for the literature produced for the Corporate Responsibility conference on 1 and 2 December 2005 was 2,001. In addition to this we purchased 400 recycled A4 presidency writing pads from the FCO for 360.
	It is the Department's policy to produce all publications on recycled paper containing a minimum of 75 per cent. post consumer waste.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what new infrastructure will be put in place to help producers of electrical and electronic equipment to comply with recycling obligations under the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive and the Restrictions on Hazardous Substances Directive;
	(2)  how many waste electronic and electrical collection facilities for domestic users the Government plans to set up in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008; where these will be based; and whether doorstep collections will be arranged if there is no collection facility nearby;
	(3)  how the planned (a) domestic and (b) industrial collection facilities will be financed when the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is implemented; and by whom.

Malcolm Wicks: On 14 December 2005, I announced a review of proposals for implementing the WEEE Directive. This will lead to a full consultation exercise in the spring. At this stage of the process, I am unable to assess what new infrastructure will be required. Officials in the Department are working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the most pragmatic and practical way forward. There are no recycling obligations under the Restrictions on Hazardous Substances Directive.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to implement the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Wicks: On 14 December 2005, I announced a review of proposals for implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the UK. A new timetable for implementation will not be set until the review is concluded.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the reason is for the postponement in implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the United Kingdom announced by his Department on 15 December 2005.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government is committed to implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Directive in the UK in a way which maximises the environmental benefits associated with the directive and minimises the costs to business. The implementation of the directive has been delayed in order to take full account of concerns expressed by businesses and other stakeholders.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impactof the delay in the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive on business.

Malcolm Wicks: The delay in the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the UK has been welcomed by business. It will give the Government time to ensure that the costs to business are minimised once the directive has been fully implemented.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when full implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive is expected to take place.

Malcolm Wicks: On 14 December 2005, I announced a review of proposals for implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive in the UK. A new timetable for implementation will not be set until the review is concluded.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what costs will be incurred by the Government as a result of the delayed implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The delay to the implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive will have significant implications for local authorities. The Department has agreed to meet any new costs in relation to the delay. We will consult local authority representatives about these amounts.

EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many man-hours have been spent on each (a) review of and (b) consultation on implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive; and how much each such (i)review and (ii) consultation has cost.

Malcolm Wicks: This question cannot be answered without incurring disproportionate cost to the Department.

European Regional Development Fund

Alan Reid: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors affected the decision on which regions should receive additional allocations from the European Regional Development Fund under paragraph 54 of the final comprehensive proposal from the Presidency of the Financial Perspective 2007 to 2013; what account he took of the position of the Highlands and Islands when making the proposal; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: holding answer 20 January 2006
	Paragraph 43 of the final comprehensive proposal from the presidency, explained that the methods, definitions and arrangements set out in the document for allocating the structural and cohesion funds to the member states are by necessity of a general nature. They do not allow an adequate response to certain circumstances, such as the need to take into account revisions of the most recent statistical data; the disproportionate impact on certain regions and countries of mechanically applying certain criteria and exceptional geographic and demographic circumstances.
	Some member states and regions were identified as having circumstances that justified special provision. This is reflected in paragraphs 44 to 54 of the proposal.
	I am aware of the particular difficulties of the Highlands and Islands as a result of falling GDP levels. The December budget settlement will provide further substantial European support, to enable the Highlands and Islands to tackle those challenges over the next seven years. This support comes on top of the quarter of a billion euros the region has received since 2000.

Export Licences

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for export licences for Man Portable Air Defence Systems to Governments or their agents were made under the June 2003 G8 Evian protocol; and how many were granted.

Malcolm Wicks: ECO has not received any applications to export complete MANPAD systems since June 2003.
	ECO has issued three and refused one export licence(s) for components for MANPADS.

Freepost

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the annual cost has been to Royal Mail of fraudulent or abusive misuse of the freepost system in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: This is an operational matter for Royal Mail and the chief executive has been asked to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Gas Prices

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of UK gas prices on industry.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government take the recent increases in gas prices very seriously, and particularly their impact on the competitiveness of UK industry. We understand that this creates tough trading conditions, especially for energy intensive users, and we are aware of a few companies having reduced production in response to the very high prices since November. This will, of course, have a negative impact on UK industrial output, but in terms of overall GDP this will be relatively minor.
	I have visited a number of major industrial gas users and am continuing to meet with companies, business representatives and gas suppliers to discuss gas prices and security of supply. We are also undertaking some research into the capability of UK industry to reduce their gas demand.
	The impact on UK businesses of increases in gas prices will depend on a variety of factors, including how much gas a particular company uses, the degree of their exposure to spot and forward prices and the duration of high prices. It will also be affected by the energy prices paid by their competitors. A further sector-specific issue is whether they are in a competitive market where international trade sets the price or in a sector where prices are determined more locally and rising energy costs could be passed on.
	Provisional data for October 2005 show that UK retail gas prices for small, medium and large industrial users were below the EU15 median. However, individual companies will have agreed commercially confidential contract terms and prices that might differ from these averages. I am also aware, from my industry visits and meetings, that, there is some evidence that gas prices in the UK for some of our very large industrial users are above those on the Continent, and I recognise the risk that this presents to UK competitiveness. Officials are working closely with Industry and Ofgem, with a view to help, wherever possible, to mitigate the situation and reduce these impacts.

Marine Bill

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to contribute to the Marine Bill, with particular reference to (a) streamlining consents for activities in the marine environment and (b) improving the planning regime for such activities.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department is working closely with Defra as the Department leading on preparation of a Marine Bill. Making consenting and offshore planning processes more efficient is an important objective for the Bill.

Marine Bill

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the content of the draft Marine Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had various discussions with other departments, industry and stakeholders on proposals for a Bill. The Government will shortly be undertaking a public consultation on most of the main issues that a Marine Bill might cover and will in due course publish a summary of the representations received in response to that consultation.

Miners Compensation Scheme

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to resolve the pension loss issues at co-defendant rates in the coal miners compensation scheme.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Department is working hard to reach agreement on this issue with all parties. The information that is required to process claims affected by this issue is not with the Department but with the claimants' representatives and insurers of the small mines. I am therefore unable to give a firm date for resolution of this issue, but hope that we will soon be able to reach an agreement with the other parties.

Natural Environment Research Council

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many requests for additional funding the Natural Environment Research Council made in each year since 1997; what the amounts were in each case; and how many of these requests were granted.

Barry Gardiner: During the course of each Spending Review since 1997, the Natural Environment Research Council has requested funding to support its key priorities. NERC received the following allocations from the Department (as set out in the Science Budget allocations publications at http://www.ost.gov.uk/research/gov_spend.htm), which are subject to technical budgeting adjustments:
	
		Budget ( million)
		
			  Science 
		
		
			 199798 165.1 
			 199899 168.8 
			 19992000 178.5 
			 200001 181.8 
			 200102 192.9 
			 200203 205.4 
			 200304 264.1 
			 200405 314.2 
			 200506 334.0 
		
	
	In addition, the Department administers the Large Facilities Capital Fund which provides capital funding for large scientific projects. NERC sought support from the fund towards the construction of RRS James Cook and a rebuild of the Halley Antarctic Station, and has been granted upto 25 million for the first and 20.1 million for the second.
	NERC has also requested additional funding outside the normal allocation process. In particular it has requested support for the following:
	2001a contribution towards the estimated 3.023 million costs of reconstruction of the Bonner Laboratory at the Rothera research station in Antarctica following its destruction by fire. The Department agreed to provide up to 2.49 million to support the rebuilding costs.
	2001a request for support for costs arising from impact of the foot and mouth outbreak. No additional support was provided and the costs were met by NERC from within its existing allocation.
	2002a request for additional funding during the transition to Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB). No additional support was provided.
	2005a contribution towards the redevelopment of part of the British Geological Survey site at Keyworth. The Department has agreed to provide up to 5 million towards capital costs.
	2005restructuring of CEH (see answer to PQ No. 42553 answered on 20 January 2006.)

Patents Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the operation of sections 1 to 4 of the Patents Act 2004.

Alan Johnson: Sections 1 to 4 of the Patents Act 2004 will bring UK patents legislation into line with the revised European Patent Convention (EPC). These provisions will be brought into force at the same time as the revised EPC itself takes effect. This is desirable in order to maintain consistency between the UK and European patents systems. It is uncertain exactly when this will be, because the revised EPC takes effect two years after the 15th state has ratified or acceded, or (if earlier) three months after the final state has ratified or acceded. At present I understand that 14 states have done so, and that includes the UK. The revised EPC, and the corresponding provisions in the 2004 Act, are therefore unlikely to take effect before mid-2008.

Pension Contributions

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A)Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Alan Johnson: The pension contributions recorded in the Department of Trade and Industry's Consolidated Resource Accounts (which include the executive agencies, The Insolvency Service, Employment Tribunals Service, National Weights And Measures Laboratory and the NDPB The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service) are as follows:
	
		
			  000 
		
		
			 200203 30,053 
			 200304 32,076 
			 200405 34,876 
		
	
	The pension costs of the non-consolidated bodies for which the Department is responsible are accounted for in each of the individual body's published accounts. To table each of these bodies to obtain this information would result in the incurring of disproportionate costs.
	For 200506, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 per cent. to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme.

Postcomm

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reasons Postcomm gave for its decision to remove Presstream from price control when the new price control regime starts in April; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: Price control is a matter for Postcomm, the industry regulator. Background information regarding its decision can be found on its website at http://www.psc.gov.uk/policy-and-consultations/consultations/price-control.html

Renewable Energy Systems

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for how many projects Renewable Energy Systems Groups has received Government grants, including grants from regional development agencies; and what the level of funding received was for each project.

Malcolm Wicks: None.

Renewable Energy Systems

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the annual premiums Renewable Energy Systems would receive on electricity generated at the proposed wind farm at Den Brook.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has made no estimate of the annual premiums Renewable Energy Systems would receive on electricity generated from the proposed wind farm at Den Brook.
	This is primarily a matter for the developer.

Wind Farms

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with Renewable Energy Systems Groups regarding the proposed wind farm at Yelland, Devon.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has had no discussions with Renewable Energy Systems regarding the proposed wind farm at Yelland in Devon.

Wind Farms

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what premiums the Government offers to companies running wind farms for the energy that they contribute to the National Grid which is not available to energy generated through other means.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government does not offer companies running wind farms a premium for their electricity that is not available to energy generated through other means.
	However, wind farms, like some other sources of renewable energy such as wave and tidal power, are supported under the Renewables Obligation.

Wind Farms

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the cost to public funds of grants to companies for the construction of wind farms has been for each of the last five years, broken down by company.

Malcolm Wicks: The cost to public funds of grants to companies for the construction of offshore wind farms in the last five financial years is as follows:
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Project Developer Cost 
		
		
			 200405 North Hoyle National Wind Power 7.5 
			 200405 Scroby Sands EON UK 7.5 
			 200506 Kentish Flats Kentish Flats Ltd. 8.7 
			 200506 Barrow Offshore Centrica and Dong A/S 6.5 
			 200506 North Hoyle National Wind Power 2.3 
			 200506 Scroby Sands EON UK 2.2 
			 Total   34.7 
		
	
	No capital grants have been paid to companies for the construction of onshore wind farms in the last five financial years.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued by courts in Hartlepool since the penalty was introduced; and how many have been breached.

Hazel Blears: A table giving a breakdown by the local government authority area in which prohibitions are imposed within antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) is available on the crime reduction website at www.crimereduction.gov.uk. This table gives data by year since ASBOs were introduced. The Home Office court proceedings database holds breach proceedings only where there has been a conviction. These data are available at criminal justice area level only.

Asylum/Immigration

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Minister's statement in the Standing Committee on the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill, on 25 October 2005, Official Report, column 237, when the full review and evaluation of section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, will be completed; if he will place a copy of the study and its results in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Immigration Service/National Asylum Support Service (NASS) review and evaluate section 9 is currently ongoing. The document is scheduled to be completed by the end of February.

Asylum/Immigration

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department how many asylum applicants were returned to other EU countries under the terms ofthe Dublin Regulations in each month since June 2005.

Tony McNulty: The approximate number of asylum applicants returned to other EU countries under the terms of the Dublin Regulations in each month since June 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 June 2005 130 
			 July 2005 140 
			 August 2005 150 
			 September 2005 140 
		
	
	These figures are based on internal management information and as such are not of sufficient quality to be published as National Statistics.

Asylum/Immigration

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the removal of failed asylum seekers from the United Kingdom.

Tony McNulty: All asylum claims are considered on their individual merits by specially trained caseworkers with access to comprehensive and up to date country information, with due regard to the United Kingdom's obligations under both the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and the Human Rights Act 1998.
	Asylum seekers whose claims are not successful are given every opportunity to leave the United Kingdom voluntarily. However, it is essential to the maintenance of a fair immigration and asylum system that those who have no right to remain in the United Kingdom and who have chosen not to leave voluntarily are removed.
	This is always done in the most sensitive way possible, treating those being removed with courtesy and professionalism. We will only remove an asylum seeker from the UK where it has been found that it is safe to do so.

Asylum/Immigration

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2877W on asylum/immigration, what the cost would be of providing a quantitative answer to the question; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 17 January 2006
	As part of the Home Office, IND is not obliged to comply with any information request where the prescribed costs of supplying the information exceed 600. The 600 limit applies to all central Government Departments. At the end of September 2005 there were 6,100 outstanding asylum applications awaiting an initial decision.
	As the number of asylum cases outstanding by nationality is not available, confirming how many outstanding applications for leave to remain on grounds of asylum there are from applicants from each member state of the European Union would require an examination of each individual case record. The IND has estimated that this would considerably exceed the 600 figure.

Asylum/Immigration

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made by Eritreans to the United Kingdom during 200405; and how many of these applications were successful.

Tony McNulty: The requested information is not available. Information on asylum applications, grants of asylum at initial decision and appeal outcomes for Eritrean nationals is published quarterly and annually. Copies are available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at: http://homeoffice. gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html

Asylum/Immigration

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to set up an Immigration and Nationality Directorate office in Scotland for the purpose of attracting more immigrants to Scotland.

Tony McNulty: There is currently a Public Enquiry Office in Glasgow which offers a same day service for the consideration of straightforward applications for leave to remain and settlement from non-EEA nationals living anywhere in the UK.

Bicester Accommodation Centre

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much of his Department's budget was allocated to building an accommodation centre for asylum seekers at Bicester in (a) 200304, (b) 200405 and (c) 200506.

Tony McNulty: The capital budget allocation for the development of the trial of accommodation centres was 3 million in 200304 and 54 million in 200405. The capital budget allocation in 200506 was 52 million and related only to the centre near Bicester.

Community Support Officers

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used in making the decision not to give community support officers powers to arrest.

Hazel Blears: The primary role of community support officers (CSOs) is to provide high visibility reassurance policing and to tackle low level crime and anti-social behaviour. We have set out our proposals to establish a standard set of powers for CSOs which includes the power to detain a person for up to 30 minutes, pending the arrival of a constable. The proposed standard set of powers will ensure that all CSOs have the powers necessary to play a full role in neighbourhood policing teams.

Correspondence

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letterdated 28 November 2005 regarding police re-organisation from Mr. Terrence S. Hyde, a constituent of the hon. Member for Shrewsbury and Atcham.

Hazel Blears: A reply was sent to Mr. Terence Hyde, on 16 January 2006, and a copy has been sent to the hon. Member.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will reply to the letter of 22 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on behalf of Juliet Johnson (Home Office reference J1094975, acknowledgement reference B28026/5).

Tony McNulty: Immigration and Nationality Directorate wrote to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 18 January 2006.

Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the immigration and nationality directorate will reply to the letter of 22 November 2005 from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood, on behalf of Ansumana Barrow and Fatoumata Barrow (reference B453843, acknowledgement reference BZ8028/5).

Tony McNulty: The immigration and nationality directorate replied to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood on 19 January 2006.

Correspondence

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter of 12 October 2005 from the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green regarding her constituent Mr. Isaac Amas-Osasu (Home Office ref: A1435001).

Tony McNulty: The immigration and nationality directorate replied to the hon. Member's letter to the Head of Member of Parliament Correspondence Section on 20 January 2005.

Crime Statistics

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences were committed in England in each year since 197677, broken down by (a) burglary, (b) car crime, (c) robbery, (d) violent crime and (e) other offences; what the percentage change was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The available information is given in the following tables.
	
		Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in England -- Number and percentage
		
			  All burglary Vehicle crime Robbery 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 1976 486,771 n/a 480,394 n/a 11,267 n/a 
			 1977(10) 571,101 n/a 575,770 n/a 13,395 n/a 
			 1978 536,683 -6 581,395 1 12,867 -4 
			 1979 521,272 -3 559,669 -4 12,218 -5 
			 1980 590,153 13 590,343 5 14,699 20 
			 1981 686,899 16 680,227 15 19,920 36 
			 1982 771,713 12 763,850 12 22,497 13 
			 1983 772,981 0 715,113 -6 21,813 -3 
			 1984 854,736 11 762,280 7 24,610 13 
			 1985 828,808 -3 807,248 6 27,179 10 
			 1986 886,347 7 941,747 17 29,630 9 
			 1987 855,910 -3 997,343 6 32,262 9 
			 1988 776,413 -9 930,414 -7 31,055 -4 
			 1989 786,917 1 969,065 4 32,777 6 
			 1990 961,696 22 1,200,462 24 35,731 9 
			 1991 1,160,470 21 1,416,489 18 44,738 25 
			 1992 1,290,664 11 1,468,715 4 52,224 17 
			 1993 1,307,683 1 1,445,873 -2 57,098 9 
			 1994 1,203,637 -8 1,303,055 -10 59,377 4 
			 1995 1,183,159 -2 1,253,756 -4 67,284 13 
			 1996 1,112,752 -6 1,227,368 -2 73,172 9 
			 1997 968,630 -13 1,057,787 -14 62,261 -15 
		
	
	
		Number and percentage
		
			  Violent crime(9) All other offences Total 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 1976 105,583 n/a 954,119 n/a 2,026,867 n/a 
			 1977(10) 110,915 n/a 1,242,780 n/a 2,500,566 n/a 
			 1978 116,242 5 1,196,503 -4 2,430,823 -3 
			 1979 122,602 5 1,205,727 1 2,409,270 -1 
			 1980 126,956 4 1,248,511 4 2,555,963 6 
			 1981 133,415 5 1,320,928 6 2,821,469 10 
			 1982 143,830 8 1,425,591 8 3,104,984 10 
			 1983 146,677 2 1,451,377 2 3,086,148 -1 
			 1984 151,899 4 1,558,657 7 3,327,572 8 
			 1985 162,791 7 1,636,758 5 3,435,605 3 
			 1986 169,696 4 1,659,879 1 3,657,669 6 
			 1987 189,053 11 1,655,090 0 3,697,396 1 
			 1988 205,398 9 1,607,085 -3 3,519,310 -5 
			 1989 227,638 11 1,691,243 5 3,674,863 4 
			 1990 236,985 4 1,915,220 13 4,314,363 17 
			 1991 251,720 6 2,176,456 14 5,005,135 16 
			 1992 268,821 7 2,276,259 5 5,304,459 6 
			 1993 278,380 4 2,215,301 -3 5,247,237 -1 
			 1994 296,208 6 2,194,007 -1 4,996,907 -5 
			 1995 295,428 0 2,120,551 -3 4,852,894 -3 
			 1996 326,387 10 2,123,800 0 4,790,307 -1 
			 1997 326,993 0 2,007,981 -5 4,361,391 -9 
		
	
	n/a=not applicable.
	(9)Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.
	(10)In 1977, offences of criminal damage of value 20 and under were introduced into the series.
	
		Table 2: Offences recorded by the police in England(11) -- Number and percentage
		
			  All burglary Vehicle crime Robbery 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 199899 911,243 n/a 1,021,565 n/a 65,982 n/a 
			 19992000 869,704 -5 992,054 -3 83,368 26 
			 200001 803,144 -8 924,795 -7 94,264 13 
			 200102 846,301 n/a 1,025,945 n/a 120,329 n/a 
		
	
	
		Number and percentage
		
			  Violent crime(12) All other offences Total 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 199899 571,027 n/a 2,343,260 n/a 4,847,095 n/a 
			 19992000 662,525 16 2,521,415 8 5,045,698 4 
			 200001 692,552 5 2,511,903 0 4,932,394 -2 
			 200102 773,897 n/a 2,637,449 n/a 5,283,592 n/a 
		
	
	n/a=not applicable.
	(11)Using the expanded coverage and revised counting rules which came into effect on 1 April 1988. Figures in this table are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(12)Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.
	
		Table 3: Offences recorded by the police in England(13) -- Number and percentage
		
			  All burglary Vehicle crime Robbery 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 200203 851,988 1 926,971 -10 106,652 -11 
			 200304 783,970 -8 843,228 -9 99,914 -6 
			 200405 650,682 -17 699,474 -17 87,625 -12 
		
	
	
		Number and percentage
		
			  Violent crime(14) All other offences Total 
			  Number Percentage change Number Percentage change Number Percentage change 
		
		
			 200203 935,019 21 2,888,938 10 5,602,916 6 
			 200304 1,052,601 13 2,965,518 3 5,645,317 1 
			 200405 1,127,681 7 2,817,212 -5 5,295,049 -6 
		
	
	(13)The National Crime Recording Standard was introduced nationally in April 2002. Because of this, figures in this table are not directly comparable with those for earlier years.
	(14)Includes violence against the person, sexual offences and robbery.

Crime Statistics

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many recorded offences of (a) burglary, (b) thefts and (c) thefts from cars there have been in each division of the Staffordshire police force in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The available information relates to offences recorded in basic command units (BCUs) in the Staffordshire police force area and is given in the tables. Data at BCD level have only been collected since 1999.
	
		Table 1: Recorded offences in Staffordshire 19992000 to 200102 -- Number of offences
		
			 Basic Command Unit Offence 19992000 200001 200102 
		
		
			 Chase Domestic burglary 1,624 1,615 1,912 
			  Thefts (15) 10,094 9,750 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,536 3,134 2,968 
			  
			 North Staffordshire Domestic burglary 1,600 1,235 1,417 
			  Thefts (15) 6,347 7,791 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,625 2,086 2,861 
			  
			 Stoke on Trent Domestic burglary 4,336 3,176 3,093 
			  Thefts (15) 12,435 14,095 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 4,275 3,367 3,857 
			  
			 Trent Valley Domestic burglary 1,513 1,523 1,661 
			  Thefts (15) 9,085 10,132 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,162 2,000 2,632 
		
	
	(15)Not available
	Note:
	The data in this table are prior to the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard. The data are therefore not directly comparable with those for subsequent years.
	
		Table 2: Recorded offences in Staffordshire 200203 to 200405 -- Number of offences
		
			 Basic Command Unit Offence 200203 200304 200405 
		
		
			 Chase Domestic burglary 1,446 1,342 1,003 
			  Thefts 9,098 8,955 8,001 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,302 2,505 2,030 
			  
			 North Staffordshire Domestic burglary 1,178 922 753 
			  Thefts 6,989 6212 5,329 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,198 1,832 1,489 
			  
			 Stoke on Trent Domestic burglary 2,438 2,491 1,732 
			  Thefts 12,711 12,100 10,448 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 3,237 3,106 2,501 
			  
			 Trent Valley Domestic burglary 1,396 1,410 1,225 
			  Thefts 9,606 9,226 8,439 
			  of which:
			  Thefts from cars 2,357 2,133 1,780 
		
	
	Note:
	The data in this table take account of the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in April 2002. The data are therefore not directly comparable with those for earlier years.

Criminal Records Bureau

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what details of an offence are recorded in information included in disclosures by the Criminal Records Bureau.

Andy Burnham: All Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)disclosures provide employers with information concerning individuals' offences as recorded on the police national computer (PNC), including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings. This would include the date of the conviction, the description of the offence, the disposal and the court or police force concerned. In the case of cautions, the date of the caution and the place it was issued are also included.
	Where an application indicates that the position involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults, the disclosure, whether it is at the standard or enhanced level, will detail the nature of an individual's inclusion on the Protection of Children Act list or list 99, where the position involves working with children, or details of inclusion on the protection of vulnerable adults list where the position involves working with vulnerable adults. Where the individual is not included on either or all of those lists, the disclosure will record that fact.
	An enhanced CRB check involves a further level of checking against non-conviction information which may be held locally by individual police forces. Additionally, any relevant adult or child protection list should be checked where relevant to the position applied for and if a match is found that fact is included on the disclosure.

Criminal Records Bureau

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make changes to the Criminal Records Bureau's portability scheme with a view to reducing the financial burden placed on voluntary bodies.

Andy Burnham: The Criminal Records Bureau's Portability Service operates at no cost to the registered body network, which includes organisations belonging to the voluntary sector. Changes to the Portability Service are under consideration but not with the specific aim to reduce the financial burden on voluntary bodies.The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) remains committed to its stated support of voluntary bodies by processing free of charge disclosure checks for those who fall within the definition of a volunteer.
	The primary aim of the changes is to minimise the inherent risks involved in reusing disclosures. The decision to accept 'ported' disclosures lies entirely with the employer or regulating body concerned, as does the accompanying risk of making use of potentially out of date information when assessing suitability.

Departmental Objectives

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards his Department's strategic objective IV.

Tony McNulty: The Government's strategy for a comprehensive reform of the asylum and immigration process Controlling our Borders: Making Migration Work for Britain was published in February 2004. The subsequent consultation period on the new points-based system for managed migration described in Selective Admission: Making migration work for Britain ended on 7 November 2005.
	We anticipate publishing our response in the springwith a timetable for next steps. The e-borders programme will deliver a fully integrated border control system and is planned to roll out in three stages from 2004 to 2014. We have introduced a range of legislative and operational measures which have successfully reduced the number of unfounded asylum applications and processing times.
	The Department remains committed to achieving its aim of tipping the balance and the number of failed asylum seekers being removed from the UK has risen significantly. We removed three, 935 asylum seekers in Q3 2005, 10 per cent. more than in Q3 2004. The 'New Asylum Model' will introduce faster, tightly-managed processes for all new asylum claimants.
	We have negotiated returns arrangements to assist in returning immigration offenders and are putting immigration at the centre of our relationship with all major countries from which illegal migrants and failed asylum seekers come. We continue to engage closely with other EU member states on returns and have taken part in a number of successful joint operations in this area. The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill which is currently before Parliament will provide the necessary legislative basis for those parts of the strategy which require primary legislation.

DNA Profiles

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forthe Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2890W, on DNA profiles, how many (a) murderers and (b) rapists who had been arrested but had not initially been charged or cautioned for an offence have been caught as a consequence of having their profiles stored on the national DNA database; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Research carried out in January 2006 indicates that: 37 murders/manslaughters, 16 attempted murders and 90 rapes have so far been linked to people who had DNA samples taken on arrest but who were not subsequently proceeded against for the arresting offence. It is not possible at the current time to determine the outcome of the police investigation of these crimes.

Extradition

Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates under section 70(1) of the Extradition Act 2003 have been signed by his Department in respect of requests from the US since 1 January 2005; and how many requests have been received from the US for which a certificate has yet to be issued.

Andy Burnham: Certification of an extradition request is only carried out after the full request has been received. Usually the person concerned is not arrested until after receipt of the full request, but it is also possible in a case of urgency for the person concerned to be arrested provisionally. The requesting state can then submit the full request at a later date.
	We do not comment on any cases in which arrests have not been made, as to give such information might endanger the course of justice. In the period 1 January 2005 to 18 January 2006, eight arrests have taken place in respect of extradition requests from the US which are dealt with by the Home Office. Certificates have been issued in respect of six of these cases.
	The other two cases are provisional arrest requests in which the full request has yet to be received from the US. The legal deadline for receipt of those requests has not yet passed.

Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been accepted under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme in each year since its introduction; and, how many of those were unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: The following table provides detail of the numbers of approvals issued under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) for each calendar year since the programme was launched. These approvals allow individuals to apply either for leave to enter or leave to remain in the United Kingdom as Highly Skilled Migrants. (These data have not been provided under National Statistics protocols. They have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.)
	The increase in the number of applications approved followed a review of the programme in October 2003. This review resulted in the introduction of a number of changes to the HSMP criteria to ensure that the programme attracted a greater share of highly skilled individuals to the United Kingdom. Information is not collected to determine if a Highly Skilled Migrant is unemployed. Successful applicants have to demonstrate though that they are able to maintain themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds.
	Initial grants of leave issued to Highly Skilled Migrants are limited to a period of 12 months. Only where a Highly Skilled Migrant has been able to establish that they have taken all reasonable steps to become lawfully economically active in the UK during this initial period, will an extension to their stay, for a further period of 36 months, be granted.

Identity Cards

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role council electoral registration departments will play in the administration of the planned identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: Currently, it is not anticipated that council electoral registration departments will have any role in the administration of the planned identity card scheme.

Illegal Broadcasting

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions there were in each of the last five years in relation to (a) pirate radio stations and (b) illegal broadcasts.

Alun Michael: holding answer 15 December 2005
	Ihave been asked to reply.
	I am informed by Ofcom that convictions concerning pirate radio stations and illegal broadcasts in the last five years were as follows.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 41 
			 2001 20 
			 2002 (16)49 
			 2003 (17)103 
			 2004 (18)60 
			 2005 (19)16 
		
	
	(16)Also two formal cautions April to December 2002.
	(17)Also five formal cautions.
	(18)Also six formal cautions.
	(19)Also eight formal cautions and 34 outstanding prosecutions.
	Note:
	The figures for formal cautions are drawn from an information system which came into service on 1 April 2002.
	There is no legal distinction between illegal broadcasters (pirate radio stations) and illegal broadcasts. The figures given therefore cover the two categories.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons the full report of his Department's investigation into allegations that visas were issued and refused on the basis of applicants' appearance at Lunar House, Croydon will not be published.

Tony McNulty: I have undertaken to publish the results of the investigation as fully as I can and will do so as quickly as possible. It is important that those conducting the investigation are not constrained in any way during the investigation and that the outcome is unprejudiced.
	By promising to publish a summary of the investigation report I have not ruled out the full report being published, but have enabled the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to maintain the protection of any security processes which may be required.

IRIS Project

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 30 November 2005, Official Report, column 597W, on the IRIS project, when he expects to publish the key findings of the project IRIS operational pilot.

Tony McNulty: The evaluation of the Project IRIS operational pilot will be commercially sensitive but Iwill report the key findings to the House.

Jo Martinson

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure disciplinary action is taken against members of the police involved in the failure to bring to court the case of the death of Jo Martinson.

Hazel Blears: The Chief Officer of Essex has sole responsibility for all operational matters. If any of his officers are found to have breached the Code of Conduct, as set out, in this case, in The Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999 (Statutory Instrument 1999 no. 730), he can institute disciplinary action.

Knives

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) fined and (b) imprisoned for (i) illegally selling knives to under 16-year-olds and (ii) marketing a bladed product in a manner which (A) indicates that it is suitable for combat and (B) is likely to promote simulations of violent behaviour since the Knives Act 1997 in (1) Greater London and (2) each London borough.

Hazel Blears: The information for London is shown in the table. Statistics are not available for each London borough.
	
		Offenders sentenced to fines and imprisonment for offences under the Knives Act 1997, London
		
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Unlawful marketing of knives (selling or hiring)(20) 
			 Sentenced 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Unlawful marketing of knives (offering or exposing to sell or hire)(20) 
			 Sentenced 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Unlawful marketing of kniveshaving in possession for the purpose of sale or hire(20) 
			 Sentenced 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Publication of any written pictorial or other material in connection with the marketing of any knifethe material suggesting/indicating knife suitable for combat September 1997(20) 
			 Sentenced 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Publication of any written pictorial or other material in connection with the marketing of any knifethe material is otherwise likely to simulate or encourage violent behaviour involving use of the knife as a weapon(20) 
			 Sentenced 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Fine 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			  
			 Selling a knife etc. to a person under 16 years(21) 
			 Sentenced 0 2 1 0 1 3 3 1 
			 Fine 0 2 1 0 1 3 3 1 
			 Immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	(20)These sections of the Act came into force in September 1997.
	(21)This offence is not included in the Knives Act 1997. It is covered by the Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.6(1).
	Source:
	RDS-NOMS 18 January 2006.

London Bombings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the HomeDepartment what use the police made of public mobile communications networks during the response operation to the incidents on the London Underground and bus network on 7 July 2005.

Hazel Blears: I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave on 17 January 2006, Official Report, column 1273W .

Miniature Motorbikes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the police about the illegal use of miniature motorbikes and quad bikes; what plans his Department has to tackle this misuse; if he will establish a compulsory registration scheme for such bikes; and if he will take steps to prohibit ownership for a set period of time by individuals who have been caught using them illegally.

Hazel Blears: We are aware of public concern about the misuse of these vehicles and the issue has been raised with us by the police and by other antisocial behaviour practitioners.
	The police already have a power under the Police Reform Act to seize any mechanically propelled vehicle which is being driven either in a careless and inconsiderate manner on-road or off-road without lawful authority contrary to s3 or s34 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and is causing or likely to cause alarm, distress or annoyance to members of the public. The driver can also be prosecuted for the Road Traffic Act offence and penalised accordingly.
	The Home Office issued on 1 November additional guidance to the police on this legislation, explaining the rationale behind its various aspects, clarifying its terms and the circumstances in which it might be used and offering examples of effective operations. At the same time Regulations governing use of the power were simplified. The Government are now considering what more can be done to curb the problem; including whether there is a need for further legislation, and mandatory registration. We have no current plans to prohibit ownership.

National Criminal Intelligence Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department if he will require the National Criminal Intelligence Service to allow inward communication from the public via e-mail and the internet; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: The National Criminal Intelligence Service was not set up to receive reports direct from members of the public, but provides links which the public can use to make contact electronically with the appropriate authority.

National Identity Register

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what access police will have to biometric information on the proposed national identity register in conducting criminal investigations other than for use in identifying a particular suspect.

Andy Burnham: The police will not have access to the National Identity Register. However, they can apply to be provided with information, including biometric information, from the Register, where it is in the interests of national security or for purposes connected with the prevention or detection of crime, subject to safeguards provided for under clause 23 of the Identity Cards Bill.
	In addition, with regard to applying for photographs, signatures, fingerprints or other biometric information, clause 23(1) provides that a police application for this information will only be successful if they show that it would not have been practicable for them to have obtained the information by other means-by conducting a search on their own fingerprint records for example.

NSPCC

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 452W, on the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, what the basis is for his confidence in social workers' awareness of the risks of prejudicing future police investigations; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: It is the responsibility of the Senior Investigating Officer to set the parameters of the police investigation and to ensure that third parties involved in the case are aware of the risks of prejudicing the investigation.
	'Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children' was jointly published by the Home Office, Department for Health and Department for Skills and Education in 1999. Chapter five includes guidance on investigative interviews with children where social workers have a role and states at paragraph 5.36 that leading or suggestive communications should always be avoided. In addition, paragraphs 6.24 to 6.26 sets out guidance in relation to investigating organised and multiple abuse and states the need for the police and other agencies involved to agree clear written protocols in relation to all key operational and policy matters.

Passports

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 378W, on passports, when his Department will revise published guidelines on photograph standards.

Andy Burnham: The photo guidance leaflet contained in the passport application pack is being updated to take account of the revised guidelines published on the UKPS website in November, and will be available in passport application packs distributed in late February or early March 2006. The UKPS website also displays the current photo guidance leaflet and this will be replaced as soon as the design for its successor is confirmed, within the next fortnight. The website has updated information on photographs on other pages, and this newer information is signposted from the main page.

Police

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what level of fitness is required for police officers;
	(2)  if he will instigate an assessment of (a) the fitness of police officers and (b) possible measures to improve fitness.

Hazel Blears: All applicants recruited to the post of constable must be in good health and able both physically and mentally to perform the duties of a police officer.
	As part of the standard recruitment process, applicants are required to pass a national job related physical fitness test to ensure that they are capable of meeting the physical demands of police work and to ensure that they are not put at risk from undertaking police tasks. The test must be passed prior to entry and again during the probationary period.
	We are also considering the introduction of regular testing of all officers in-service to ensure maintenance of the minimum fitness standard.
	Details of the recruit fitness test are contained on thePolice Could You website at www.policecouldyou.co.uk and are set out for forces in Home Office Circular 43/2004. We are placing a copy of the Circular in the Library of the House.
	Officers in certain specialist roles are also required to demonstrate a higher level of fitness on a regular basis. Work is being undertaken to ensure consistency in standards across the Service.
	Officers are encouraged to develop and maintain health and fitness as part of the Home Office's strategy for a healthy police service and individual force occupational force strategies.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 20 June 2005, Official Report, column 771W, on police, how many fatal accidents involving police service vehicles there were in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Figures are provided in the table. Data collected on behalf of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary appear in column A and provide the number of fatalities resulting from road traffic collisions on public roads involving police vehicles and those resulting from immediate/emergency response and police pursuits.
	The figures in this column are comparable with the figures provided in the previous PQ answer. The Independent Police Complaints Commission published the bulletin on Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 200405 on 19 November 2005. This includes a wider definition of road traffic fatalities which, for the purpose of the reporting, are defined as deaths of motorists, cyclists or pedestrians resulting from police pursuits, police vehicles responding to emergency calls and other police traffic-related activity. These data are provided in column B.
	
		Fatal accidents involving police service vehicles200405
		
			  Column A Column B 
			   Fatalities resulting from road traffic collisions on public roads involving police vehicles and those resulting from immediate/emergency response and police pursuits as at 31 March 2005 Road traffic fatalities including the deaths of motorists, cyclists or pedestrians resulting from police pursuits, police vehicles responding to emergency calls and other police traffic related activity (200405)(22) 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 1 2 
			 Cambridgeshire 0 1 
			 Cheshire 0 0 
			 Cleveland 0 2 
			 Cumbria 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 1 1 
			 Devon and Cornwall 0 0 
			 Dorset (23) 0 
			 Durham 0 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 0 0 
			 Essex 1 2 
			 Gloucestershire 0 0 
			 Greater Manchester 4 4 
			 Gwent 0 1 
			 Hampshire 0 1 
			 Hertfordshire 0 0 
			 Humberside 0 1 
			 Kent 0 0 
			 Lancashire 1 3 
			 Leicestershire 0 1 
			 Lincolnshire 2 2 
			 London, City of 0 0 
			 Merseyside 0 1 
			 Metropolitan police 4 5 
			 Norfolk 0 0 
			 Northamptonshire 0 1 
			 Northumbria 2 2 
			 North Wales 0 1 
			 North Yorkshire 0 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 2 
			 South Wales 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 2 2 
			 Staffordshire 0 0 
			 Suffolk 0 0 
			 Surrey 0 0 
			 Sussex 2 2 
			 Thames Valley 0 1 
			 Warwickshire 2 2 
			 West Mercia 0 1 
			 West Midlands 0 1 
			 West Yorkshire 0 2 
			 Wiltshire 0 0 
			 Total 23 44 
		
	
	(22)Taken from the Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 200405 publication published on 19 November 2005.
	(23)Force is unable to provide figures in 200405.

Police

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the rollout of safer neighbourhood policing teams will be completed for each ward in Wimbledon constituency.

Hazel Blears: There are currently 285 safer neighbourhoods teams in London; a minimum of eight per borough. On Tuesday 10 January the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service Sir Ian Blair and Mayor of London Ken Livingstone announced that the roll out of safer neighbourhoods is being accelerated to ensure every neighbourhood in London will have a full team in place during the next financial year (200607).This will mean that the remaining 340 wards will initially have teams of four staff in place by April 2006, rising to six staff by April 2007. This will increase the number of teams from the current 285 to a total of 625 a year ahead of schedule

Police

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the rollout of the remaining safer neighbourhood policing teams is planned to be fully completed in each ward of the London borough of Wandsworth; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are currently 285 safer neighbourhoods teams in London; a minimum of eight per borough. On Tuesday 10 January the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Ian Blair and Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone announced that the roll out of safer neighbourhoods is being accelerated to ensure every neighbourhood in London will have a full team in place during the next financial year (200607).This will mean that the remaining 340 wards will initially have teams of four staff in place by April 2006, rising to six staff by April 2007. This will increase the number of teams from the current 285 to a total of 625 a year ahead of schedule.

Police

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the roll-out of the Safer Neighbourhood policing teams is planned in each ward of the London borough of Haringey; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: There are currently 285 Safer Neighbourhoods teams in London; a minimum of eight per borough.
	On 10 January the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service Sir Ian Blair and Mayor of London KenLivingstone announced that the roll out of Safer Neighbourhoods is being accelerated to ensure that every neighbourhood in London will have a full team in place during the next financial year (200607).
	This will mean that the remaining 340 wards will initially have teams of four staff in place by April 2006, rising to six staff by April 2007. This will increase the number of teams from the current 285 to a total of 625 a year ahead of schedule.

Racially Aggravated Offences

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service on the prosecution of racially aggravated offences.

Hazel Blears: Discussions have been, and will continue to be, held in the context of making the criminal justice system more effective in bringing offences, including racially aggravated offences, to justice.

Recorded Offences (Humberside)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been found to be carrying knives in public without good reason or lawful authority in each division of Humberside police in each year since the introduction of the Knives Act 1997.

Hazel Blears: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform which show that the number of people proceeded against at the magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for carrying knives in public without good reason or lawful authority for Humberside police force area, 200204 are contained in the table.
	It is not possible to identify those convictions by each division of Humberside police as the data are not collected at this level of detail.
	
		Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139(1), Humberside police force area, 1997 to 2004
		
			  Offence description  Statute  Year Proceeded against  Found guilty 
		
		
			 Having an article with blade or point in public place Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec 3 1997 60 43 
			   1998 63 45 
			   1999 80 65 
			   2000 63 53 
			   2001 61 46 
			   2002 81 69 
			   2003 77 63 
			   2004 120 105 
			 Having an article with blade or point on school premises (25) Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139A(1)(5)(a) added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec 4(1) 1997   
			   1998 1  
			   1999   
			   2000 2 2 
			   2001   
			   2002   
			   2003 2 2 
			   2004 1 1 
		
	
	(24)These data are on the principal offence basis.

Stateless People

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stateless people were known to be resident in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; and what his policy is on considering applications for leave to remain.

Tony McNulty: No distinction is made between applications for leave to remain from stateless people and from people who have a nationality. Stateless people whose applications are successful are granted leave to enter or remain in the usual way. Those whose applications fail are expected to leave the United Kingdom, usually to return to their countries of habitual residence. Statistics on grants of settlementthat is, grants of permanent residenceto stateless persons, 2000 to 2004, are given in the following table. However, they are not cumulative and they do not take account of persons who subsequently embark or acquire British Citizenship.
	Further immigration statistics can be found in the Command Papers Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom available from the Library and from the Home Office websitehttp://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html
	
		Grants of settlement, stateless persons (25)(5508670026), 200004
		
			 United Kingdom Number of persons 
			 Nationality Stateless 
		
		
			 2000 930 
			 2001 390 
			 2002 215 
			 2003 330 
			 2004(27) 205 
		
	
	(25)Includes persons whose nationality is recorded as unknown.
	(26)Data from 2003 also exclude dependants of EEA and Swiss nationals in confirmed relationships
	(27)Provisional
	Data rounded to the nearest 5.

Under-age Sales

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many businesses were prosecuted for selling (a) alcohol, (b) glue products and (c) fireworks to under-age people in the South Lakeland Crime and Disorder Partnership in 200405.

Hazel Blears: The available information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform shows that there were no prosecutions in South Lakeland petty sessional area for selling intoxicating substances or fireworks to persons under age in 2004. In addition, there were no prosecutions as notified to the court proceedings database for retailers supplying intoxicating substances or fireworks to persons under 18.
	Statistics on court proceedings for 2005 will be published in the autumn.

Violent Crime

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the reasons for changes in the number of recorded violent crime in each of the last four quarters.

Hazel Blears: There are three main reasons for the increases in recorded crime in each of the last four quarters for which figures are available (i.e. ending April to June 2005).
	There is still some residual effect from the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard in 2002. Analysis shows that there is some increase in recording as police forces improve compliance with the standard.
	Many of the Government's programmes for tackling domestic violence and sexual crime are encouraging the reporting and therefore recording of offences whichhad hitherto been grossly under-reported. The reclassification of some offences (such as indecent exposure) as violent has also led to increases.
	More pro-active policing and increased police effectiveness may cause an increase in recorded crime. Use of CCTV, for example, may lead to recording and detection of assaults which would otherwise have gone unreported and unrecorded.
	The British Crime Survey, which is widely-regarded as providing a more reliable trend measure because it is resistant to changes in reporting, police recording and local policing activity, showed a fall of 7 per cent. in violent crime during this period (though this was not statistically significant).

Work Permits

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were granted to health workers from overseas in (a) 2004 and (b) each month in 2005 for which records are available, broken down by country.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 1 November 2005
	Table 1 displays the number of permits approved for health workers from overseas in 2004 broken down by country. These figures include all approvals made for overseas applications, in-country applications, extension applications and change of employment applications.
	Table 2 displays the number of permits approved for health workers from overseas for each month in 2005 for which records are available, broken down by nationality. These figures include all approvals made for overseas applications, in-country applications, extension applications and change of employment applications.
	
		Table 1
		
			 Nationality Permits approved in 2004 
		
		
			 India 13,479 
			 Philippines 11,452 
			 South Africa 4,945 
			 Zimbabwe 3,121 
			 Nigeria 1,563 
			 China Peoples Republic of 1,544 
			 Pakistan 1,393 
			 Australia 1,133 
			 Ghana 843 
			 Bulgaria 839 
			 United States of America 602 
			 Zambia 589 
			 Romania 516 
			 Kenya 514 
			 Others 5,960 
			 Total 48,493 
		
	
	
		Table 2
		
			  Permits approved in 2005 
			 Nationality January February March April May June July August September Total 
		
		
			 India 1,403 1,047 1,068 1,064 948 1,123 1,155 1,105 976 9,889 
			 Philippines 640 647 742 647 591 690 722 614 648 5,941 
			 South Africa 315 312 308 286 273 339 261 274 268 2,636 
			 Zimbabwe 229 196 155 216 198 235 179 179 226 1,813 
			 Pakistan 172 110 99 83 81 122 119 109 67 962 
			 Nigeria 129 106 113 142 129 131 124 125 114 1,113 
			 China Peoples Republic of 113 130 160 127 112 104 122 129 201 1,198 
			 Australia 81 95 88 85 75 81 83 78 74 740 
			 Ghana 67 62 69 65 71 74 69 86 73 636 
			 Mauritius 56 25 29 37 33 24 25 25 35 289 
			 Bulgaria 51 45 56 56 50 61 44 43 41 447 
			 Romania 49 39 49 56 29 35 46 73 50 426 
			 Zambia 49 39 27 42 26 35 44 60 50 372 
			 United States of America 48 41 27 53 35 48 79 76 90 497 
			 Others 530 436 414 385 396 480 506 477 469 4,093 
			 Total 7,864 6,660 6,808 6,688 6,094 7,164 7,156 6,906 6,764 62,104

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the change in the level of opium production in Afghanistan was in 2002 to 2004.

Kim Howells: Opium production in Afghanistan increased in the years 2002 to 2004. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) conducts an annual survey into the level of opium poppy cultivation and production in Afghanistan. Full details can be found on their website http://www.unodc.org
	According to the survey, opium production in the years 200104 was estimated as follows:
	
		
			  Production (Tonnes) 
		
		
			 2001 185 
			 2002 3,400 
			 2003 3,600 
			 2004 4,200 
		
	
	The production figures were lower in 2001 as the Taliban had imposed a ban on opium poppy cultivation in July 2000 in order to manipulate the world price for the illegal product. By July 2001, the tactics they employed had led to a 91 per cent. reduction. This ban was enforced with a combination of fear and bribery and drove up the price of opium so that those with opium stockpiles profited, many of whom colluded with the Taliban Government.
	The lack of viable central state and war-damaged infrastructure in Afghanistan created conditions in which opium cultivation could thrive once again. President Karzai, with support from the international community, is working hard to change this and has made clear that eliminating opium is vital for Afghanistan's future and is key to stability.

Afghanistan

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely change in the level of the production of opium and its derivatives in Afghanistan in the next 12 months.

Kim Howells: In November 2005, the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODC) confirmed the poppy cultivation and production figures for the 200405 season from their annual survey. They estimated that opium production was around 4,100 metric tonnes, a decrease of only 100 tonnes (2.4 per cent.) compared to 2004, despite a significant 21 per cent. reduction in poppy cultivation from 131,000 hectares (ha) in 200304 to 104,000 ha in 200405. Good weather and an absence of crop disease were responsible for a significant increase in yield in 200405. UNODC will provide an early indication of this season's (200506) production figures in their Rapid Assessment Survey, which is due to be published in the next couple of weeks.
	While the UNODC figures were encouraging last year, we need to be cautious about the future. There is a risk that cultivation and production may increase again in the next 12 monthsinitial reports suggest that farmers in some provinces are threatening to return to cultivation. Our goal is to ensure that the downward trend in cultivation and production is maintained in the long term. We are working hard with the Government of Afghanistan and other international partners to ensure the Government of Afghanistan is able to deliver on this goal.

Arms Exports

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the use of UK arms equipment by the Indonesian military in relation to the EU code of conduct on Arms Exports.

Ian Pearson: We have had no confirmed reports that British-supplied military equipment has been used in Indonesia in contravention of the EU code of conduct.
	All export licence applications for Indonesia are rigorously assessed on a case by case basis against the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria taking account of the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will reply to the letters of 1 December and 20 December 2005 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire about the US Congress.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 20 January 2006
	Officials are consulting the British embassy in Washington about the hon. Member's proposal to hold a reception in connection with the Congressional-Parliamentary Tennis Challenge. I will reply to his letters on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary as soon as possible.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date Henri Nswana was accredited to the UK from the Democratic Republic of Congo (a) as charge d'affaires and (b) as ambassador; and when his accreditation ended.

Ian Pearson: Mr Henri Nswana began his posting as Minister Counsellor at the Democratic Republic of the Congo embassy in the UK in 1998. He was accredited as charge d'affaires in early 2000, and became ambassador for the Democratic Republic of Congo on 6 July 2003. His accreditation ended on 20 October 2005.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of the recent referendum in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was undertaken by his officials or representatives; and what advice he was given on its (a) administration and (b) outcome.

Ian Pearson: The EU sent an official Electoral Observation mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to monitor the referendum. UK representatives from the British embassy in Kinshasa also observed the referendum. Despite the logistical challenges of organising a referendum in such a vast country, it took place in a largely peaceful and positive atmosphere, and the turnout was good. International observers agreed that it had largely been properly and freely conducted, with few incidents of violence.
	The UK welcomes the outcome of the referendum: the strong endorsement of the draft constitution underlines the desire of the Congolese people for completion of the transition to full democratic government as soon as possible. We continue to urge the Congolese Government and National Assembly to maintain the momentum of the political process and ensure that the envisaged timetable for elections before 30 June 2006 can be met.

Departmental Equipment

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) personal computers, (b) laptops, (c) servers, (d) printers, (e) scanners, (f) photocopiers and (g) fax machines (i)his Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which his Department is responsible in each English region owned in (1) 200304 and (2)200405.

Jack Straw: While core IT equipment is centrally provided, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) also operates a devolved system of budgeting under which directorates have freedom to buy a range of IT and other equipment to support their work. Fax machines, in particular, are paid for from such devolved budgets and no central figures exist for the numbers used within the FCO. Some other equipment is refreshed regularly under existing contracts. The following figures are available, but not necessarily complete, for IT equipment in use in the English regions, at sites in London and in the south east, particularly Hanslope Park, near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire:
	
		
			  Current Acquired 200304 Acquired 200405 
		
		
			 (a) Personal computers 4,857 359 580 
			 (b) Laptops 290 53 134 
			 (c) Servers 343 28 88 
			 (d) Printers 491 125 130 
			 (e) Scanners 80 14 20 
		
	
	
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 (f) Photocopiers (NB photocopiers used by the FCO in the UK are leased and not actually owned by the Department) 335 355 
		
	
	Non-departmental public bodies (NDPB):
	British Council
	The British Council, which has offices throughout the country, has no central data on photocopiers or fax machines. For the other equipment in question it has outsourced its infrastructure support to Logica CMG which owns all the relevant assets.
	Details of equipment held for other NDPBs for which the FCO is responsible, all of which are based in London, are as follows:
	
		The Great Britain-China Centre
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) personal computers 6 6 
			 (b) laptops 2 2 
			 (c) servers 1 1 
			 (d) printers 2 2 
			 (e) scanners 1 1 
			 (f) photocopiers 1 1 
			 (g) fax machines 1 1 
		
	
	
		The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) personal computers 3 3 
			 (b) laptops 2 2 
			 (c) servers 1 1 
			 (d) printers 5 5 
			 (e) scanners 1 1 
			 (f) photocopiers 1 1 
			 (g) fax machines 1 1 
		
	
	
		The Westminster Foundation for Democracy
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) personal computers 14 17 
			 (b) laptops 4 4 
			 (c) servers 2 2 
			 (d) printers 9 9 
			 (e) scanners 1 1 
			 (f) photocopiers 2 2 
			 (g) fax machines 1 1 
		
	
	The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission (MACC)
	The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission owns no IT equipment, and did not do so during 200305. The Association of Commonwealth Universities, which provides the secretariat to the MACC, does have some of the IT listed, but buys and maintains this from its own budget.
	Equipment used for FCO's advisory NDPB's is included within the totals given elsewhere in this answer.
	Executive Agencies
	
		Wilton Park (Near Steyning, West Sussex)
		
			  200304 200405 
		
		
			 (a) Personal computers 52 57 
			 (b) Laptops 12 13 
			 (c) Servers 5 6 
			 (d) Printers 28 29 
			 (e) Scanners 4 4 
			 (f) Photocopiers 8 8 
			 (g) Fax machines 5 5 
		
	
	Some of the categories include multi-function machines. Three photocopiers also act as combined scanners. The other photocopiers also act as fax machines.

Departmental Estate (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs what (a) land and (b) property is owned by his Department in Castle Point.

Jack Straw: None.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Jack Straw: The information is as follows:
	Annual expenditure on vehicles for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in each of the last three financial years; and planned expenditure for 200506.
	Vehicle running costs for the FCO home fleets operating out of Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and King Charles street, London in south east England, including fuel, maintenance at Hanslope Park and insurance are as follows:
	
		
			  Vehicle running costs () 
		
		
			 200203 142,160 
			 200304 159,102 
			 200405 185,697 
			 April to December 200506 126,535 
		
	
	Expenditure for replacement vehicles for the FCO home fleets operating out of Hanslope Park near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire and King Charles street, London in south east England, are as follows:
	
		
			  Expenditure for replacement vehicles () 
		
		
			 200203 123,128.29 
			 200304 92,997.98 
			 200405 115,242.00 
			 200506 54,050.49 
		
	
	Annual expenditure on vehicles for each of the FCO non-departmental and other public bodies in each of the last three financial years and planned expenditure for 200506.
	The BBC World Service operates two vehicles in the UK both of which are located in Caversham, Reading in south east England. Running costs, including fuel, maintenance and insurance, are as follows:
	
		
			  Vehicle running costs () 
		
		
			 200203 2,500 
			 200304 2,500 
			 200405 2,500 
			 200506 2,500 
		
	
	One replacement vehicle was purchased in March 2005 (200405) at a cost of 16,250. The BBC World Service car pool remains at two vehicles.
	There has been no expenditure for vehicles in each of the last three financial years and none is planned for:
	The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission
	The British Association for Central and Eastern Europe
	The Diplomatic Service Appeal Board
	The Foreign Compensation Committee
	The Westminster Foundation for Democracy
	The Wilton Park Academic Council
	The British Council
	The Great BritainChina Centre
	The Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine
	Annual expenditure on vehicles for each of the FCO executive agencies in each of the last three financial years and planned expenditure for 200506 is as follows:
	Wilton Park operated two cars from April 2002 until July 2004. Thereafter this decreased to one car. There is also one delivery/storage van. All of the vehicles are operated in south east England. The running costs for these vehicles, including fuel, maintenance and insurance are as follows:
	
		
			  Vehicle running costs () 
		
		
			 200203 5,500 
			 200304 5,500 
			 200405 5,150 
			 200506 4,180 
		
	
	Replacement vehicles have not been purchased during the last three financial years, and there are no plans to replace these vehicles in the current or next financial years.
	There has been no annual expenditure on vehicles for other public bodies for which the FCO is responsible in Scotland, Wales, each of the English regions and Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years and none is planned for 200506.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many disciplinary actions against civil servants employed in his Department (a) were commenced and (b) resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Details of disciplinary actions which were commenced against civil servants employed in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and which resulted in a sanction being applied in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			  Disciplinary actions commenced Sanctions applied 
		
		
			 2001 8 7 
			 2002 14 9 
			 2003 21 19 
			 2004 9 7 
			 2005 19 17 
		
	
	The figures given for the disciplinary actions commenced include cases which were not upheld or where the individuals left the FCO before the procedure was completed. The figures given for sanctions applied are the number of penalties handed out where an allegation of misconduct was upheld in line with our Misconduct Procedure. We do not keep central records for all oral warnings and these have not been included in the above information. A copy of the FCO Misconduct Procedure is available in the Library of the House.

East Africa

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the border dispute on the horn of Africa between Eritrea and Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the recent UN Security Council threat to implement sanctions against Eritrea and Ethiopia; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the ban instituted by Eritrea on flights by the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea within its airspace; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We remain concerned at the continuing tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over their disputed border. We continue to underline to both parties that there should be no return to war; that the decision of the boundary commission is final and binding, and must be implemented; and that they should engage in dialogue on all the issues that divide them.
	We have also supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 1640, urging Eritrea to restore full co-operation with the UN force, the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, urging both parties to show maximum restraint and return to previous deployment levels, and stressing the UN Security Council's readiness to consider further measures if one or both parties fail to comply. We call on both Ethiopia and Eritrea to respond promptly and positively to the Council's demands.

Ethiopia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of Ethiopia on the continuing imprisonment of Daniel Behele and Netsanet Demessie.

Ian Pearson: We have made representations to the Government of Ethiopia at ministerial and official level regarding all those, including civil society representatives, detained in connection with the political disturbances in 2005. Most recently, my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, raised our concerns directly with Prime Minister Meles on 17 December. He stressed the need for the trials of those charged to be transparent, independent and impartial. The international community is monitoring the trials closely.

Ethiopia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to ensure that the Ethiopian President adheres to the final and binding boundary commission border demarcation.

Ian Pearson: We supported UN Security Council resolution 1640, which demanded that Ethiopia accept fully and without further delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary commission and take immediately concrete steps to enable, without preconditions, the commission to demarcate the border completely and promptly. On 17 December 2005, my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, metPrime Minister Meles in Addis Ababa and had constructive discussions on the border. As a consequence we are consulting widely with international partners to further the process.

Ethiopia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the viability of sanctions to ensure that President Meles Zenawi complies with the Algiers Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: UN Security Council resolution 1640 demands that Ethiopia accept fully and without further delay the final and binding decision of the Eritrea-Ethiopia boundary commission. It did not threaten sanctions against Ethiopia for failing to implement the boundary commission's ruling as set out in the Algiers Agreement. It threatened sanctions in the event that Ethiopia or Eritrea did not meet the Security Council's demand to return forces to December 2004 levels of deployment.
	The UN Security Council considered the implementation of Security Council resolution 1640 on 9 January 2006 when it decided to postpone further consideration to allow time for bilateral initiatives. We, along with Security Council partners, will consider next steps in light of the progress of these initiatives.

Ethiopia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to secure the release of the 131 recently detained Ethiopian opposition leaders, reporters and aid workers.

Ian Pearson: We remain concerned at the arrest and detention of Coalition for Unity and Democracy opposition leaders, media and civil society representatives. We continue to raise those concerns with the Government of Ethiopia at every suitable opportunity. Most recently, my noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and stressed the importance that those detained and charged with offences should receive a fair, open and transparent judicial trial and those not charged should be released immediately.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a new Governor of Gibraltar will be appointed; and who will be consulted on the appointment.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, in consultation with the Ministry of Defence will consider candidates to succeed Sir Francis Richards as Governor of Gibraltar.
	In keeping with the commitment made by my noble Friend Baroness Amos, the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, at the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in September 2002, the Chief Minister of Gibraltar will be involved in the consultation process.
	This recruitment process is already under way, and we hope to make an announcement in the spring.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of talks on the transfer of powers from the Governor of Gibraltar and the UK Government to the Gibraltar Government.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Chief Minister of Gibraltar wrote to my right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in December 2003 formally tabling proposals for the reform of the 1969 Gibraltar Constitution. These proposals have been considered very carefully and have been the subject of two rounds of discussion between officials and a cross-party Gibraltar delegation, led by the Chief Minister. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary recently met the Chief Minister to discuss a number of the more important issues. Substantial progress has been made, but a number of outstanding issues remain.

Gibraltar

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of talks between the UK, Gibraltar and Spain.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 20 January 2006
	My right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and his Spanish counterpart, Sr Moratinos, announced the creation of the new Trilateral Forum on Gibraltar in October 2004. Since then, the Chief Minister and senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Spanish Foreign Ministry have met on four occasions to discuss a range of issues, including telecommunications, aviation issues, pensions and cross-border co-operation. These talks are progressing well and they are likely to meet again in the first half of next month.

Guy Patrice Lumumba

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the arrest of Guy Patrice Lumumba in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 17 January 2006
	Guy Patrice Lumumba was arrested on 17 December 2005 in Kinshasa and accused of a common law violation. I am not aware of any official statements from the Congolese authorities relating to his case.

India

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage the Government of India to ensure the protection of the minority Christian and Muslim communities in the Darys district of Gujarat from violence threatened by Hindu extremist groups.

Kim Howells: We are aware of the alleged involvement of Hindu extremist organisations in attacks against religious minorities in India. We condemn all instances where individuals are persecuted because of their faith or belief, wherever they happen and whatever the religion of the individual or group concerned. Our High Commission in New Delhi continues to monitor the issue of religious freedom, with staff making regular calls on the appropriate Indian authorities to flag up our concern about incidents of religious intolerance. We will continue to insist that the right to freedom of religion is upheld, and that those responsible for attacks against people on grounds of their religion are brought to justice.

Indonesia

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreignand Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the position of the Christian community in Indonesia, with particular reference to those facing (a) prosecution and (b) the death penalty.

Ian Pearson: Christians in Indonesia enjoy a high degree of religious freedom. Their right to worship is protected under the Indonesian constitution. There are sporadic incidents of inter-religious violence in certain religiously mixed areas which have adversely affected both the Christian and Muslim populations. However, these have decreased in recent years and the Government of Indonesia is keen to ensure good inter- communal relations, including by working with Muslim and Christian community leaders to reduce tensions.
	There are a small number of court cases involving Christians. Where the death penalty has been imposed, as in any other court case, we urge the Indonesian Government to refrain from carrying out executions, and to consider the abolition of the death penalty.

Iran

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the (a) bilateral and (b) multi-lateral contact he has had with the Government of Iran since January 2005 concerning nuclear processing; and what plans he has for further contact.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had regular bilateral and multi-lateral contact with the Government of Iran since January 2005.
	He presently has no plans for further meetings.

Iraq

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his officials have had with the Kurdish Regional Government of Iraq concerning (a) removal of non-Kurdish people from the area and (b) freedom of expression; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Officials have had no discussions with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) on the removal of non-Kurdish people from the Kurdish region.
	The Government are committed to supporting freedom of expression in Iraq. Our embassy offices in Iraq discuss such matters with the Iraqi Government, including the KRG, on a regular basis.

Maldives

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Maldivian Government about the recent incident of harassment of Minivan Radio by Interpol; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any discussions with the Government of the Maldives on this subject. However, officials from the British high commission in Colombo, accredited to the Maldives, raised this incident with the Maldivian Deputy Foreign Minister on 16 January 2006. We are aware that the Sri Lankan police, acting on a request through Interpol from the Government of the Maldives, made inquiries at the offices of Minivan Radio in Colombo in December 2005. We have no detailed information about the nature of these inquiries. We understand that the Sri Lankan police have indicated that no further action is to be taken. Minivan has relocated its Sri Lankan office to the United Kingdom.
	We support democratic reform in the Maldives. Guaranteeing press freedom is an essential part of this process. In support of this, we have funded training for private and state media in Maldives which seeks to raise the quality of political reporting and public debate.

Nuclear Proliferation

John Maples: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the UK Government have taken since the June 2005 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference to strengthen the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Since June 2005, the UK has continued to play a proactive role in international efforts in a range of fora to strengthen all three pillars of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), including:
	at the UN world summit, where we worked extensively for proactive language on non-proliferation;
	through our continuing involvement in the Norwegian-led seven-country initiative designed to generate broad support for a forward-looking non-proliferation agenda;
	in the International Atomic Energy Agency, where we have actively participated in discussions designed to strengthen the NPT and address the issue of non-compliance;
	as G8 President during 2005, including by leading G8 efforts to encourage all states to adopt the IAEA's Additional Protocol;
	through active participation in the diplomatic conference which agreed the Amendment on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.

Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what British participation there has been in the peace process in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We have been closely engaged in the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and the subsequent political process and continue to work closely with the UN and other members of the international community to achieve a comprehensive and lasting settlement and a return to good governance in Somalia. My noble Friend, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for International Development and their officials have met the Transitional Federal President, Speaker and Prime Minister of Somalia on many occasions and have urged them to resolve their differences through dialogue.
	They have also met with and fully support the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in encouraging Somali-owned reconciliation initiatives. We are working with other members of the international community to help convene an early meeting of the Transitional Federal Parliament inside Somalia and remain prepared to offer further assistance to reconciliation and rebuilding the Somali state.

Somalia

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of the human rights situation in Somalia is undertaken by his officials; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: Our ability to monitor the human rights situation in Somalia is severely limited because of the dangerous internal security situation, but as set out in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report on Human Rights 2005, our judgment is that Somalia's population, many of whom have been displaced, both internally and across borders, lacks access to basic economic, social and political rights as well as formal judicial systems.

Somaliland

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications he has had with the Government of Somaliland; and if he will make a statement on future relations.

Ian Pearson: My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, met the Somaliland authorities' Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Edna Adan, on 20 May 2005. During the year he exchanged letters with the Head of the Somaliland authorities, His Excellency Dahir Rayale Kahin, on the London bombings and the Somaliland elections. We acknowledge the progress achieved by Somaliland and hope to help the authorities there to further their democratic and developmental agenda through bilateral and multilateral contributions to aid programmes.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's most recent assessment is of criminal violence in Sudan; and what recent reports it has received from the United Nations Mission in Sudan on this issue.

Ian Pearson: The United Nations Mission in Sudan provides regular reports on the security situation in Sudan. The security situation has improved in the southsince the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. However, criminal violence and banditry are widespread in Darfur. When my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, visited Sudan from 58 October he made clear to the Government of Sudan that more must be done to improve security in Darfur. The Government are providing almost 32 million to support the African Union Mission in Darfur, which includes a sizeable civilian policing element.

Sudan

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to tackle the ongoing violence and rape in Darfur; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: We deplore the ongoing rape and sexual violence in Darfur. Such attacks are abhorrent and totally unacceptable. In his latest report on Darfur, the UN Secretary-General notes that reports of sexual assaults are received on a daily basis. The African Union (AU) mission in Darfur is increasingly co-ordinating its patrols to provide protection for women when they leave the camps for Internally Displaced Persons. Where this is happening the number of reported rapes has decreased significantly, and we are encouraging the AU to promote this practice. The UK has provided almost 32 million in support to the AU.
	We have made, and continue to make clear to the Government of Sudan that more must be done to provide security for the citizens of Darfur, and that perpetrators of such crimes must be brought to justice. In late December 2005, the UK participated in a mission to assess human rights in West Darfur consisting of representatives of the Government of Sudan, the UN and international community. The mission paid specific attention to sexual violence, and produced a number of recommendations. We are pressing the Government of Sudan to implement these recommendations as a matter of urgency.

Terror Suspects

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what NATO's policy is on the rendition of terror suspects detained by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: holding answer 20 January 2006
	Troops deployed under the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are able to arrest and detain by virtue of the authorisations permitting use of all necessary measures to fulfil its mandate contained in, most recently, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1623 (2005), and by agreement with the Government of Afghanistan. NATO-agreed ISAF detention policy is that individuals should be transferred to the Afghan authorities at the first opportunity and within 96 hours or released.

UN Convention Against Corruption

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government will ratify the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

Ian Pearson: The Government's policy on international treaties is that we only move to ratification once UK law is in compliance. In order to comply with the commitments contained in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption it was necessary, inter alia, to introduce secondary legislation under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (Enforcement of Overseas Forfeiture Orders) and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (External Requests and Orders). The relevant Orders in Council came into force by 1 January 2006. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is now in the process of drafting the instrument of ratification. This requires the Secretary of State's signature and must be formally presented to the depository organisation, in this case the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The process should be completed early in 2006.

UN Human Rights Convention

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the members of the UK delegation to the 2006 United Nations Human Rights Convention in Geneva; and what issues the delegation proposes to bring beforeit.

Ian Pearson: The UN World Summit on 1416 September 2005 agreed to create a new UN Human Rights Council to replace the Commission on Human Rights. Negotiations on the mandate, functions and other elements of the Council are ongoing in New York. Their conclusion and its timing will influence the format of this year's Commission on Human Rights, and the work that it will undertake. For this reason it is not yet possible to list the UK's delegation, although we can confirm that it will be headed by the UK Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, ambassador Nick Thorne. For the same reasons, no decisions have been taken on what issues we might bring before the Commission. We expect to work closely with EU and other partners in ensuring a smooth transition from the Commission to the Human Rights Council.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effects of the EU-Morocco Fishing Agreement on the peace process in the Western Sahara.

Kim Howells: The UK fully supports the United Nations process, including the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, to assist the parties to achieve a political solution to the question of Western Sahara. The EU-Morocco fisheries agreement is an EU bilateral partnership agreement and should have no effect on the question of the status of Western Sahara being dealt with under the UN process.

Western Sahara

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the progress of decolonisation of the Western Sahara; and when he expects a referendum to be held.

Kim Howells: The UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, and his new Personal Envoy to Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution, which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. On 18 January 2006, Mr. van Walsum briefed the UN Security Council on progress. The UK will now consider his comments carefully.
	On 28 October, the Security Council unanimously adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution 1634 which renewed the mandate for the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The Government supported this. There are, however, no plans for a UN referendum to be held in the near future.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Adenstar (Portslade)

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what factors he took into account in accepting the invitation to open the new offices of Adenstar in Portslade on 13 May 2002; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.

Audit Commission Chairman

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what criteria were used when making the decision to reappoint James Strachan as Chairman of the Audit Commission.

Phil Woolas: Mr. Strachan was offered re-appointment as Chairman of the Audit Commission for a period of two years. In December 2005 he wrote to inform my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister of his decision not to take up his reappointment.

Beach Safety

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will take steps to make beach safety provision a statutory responsibility of (a) local authorities and (b) other beach owners.

Jim Fitzpatrick: At present the provision of beach safety services is at the discretion of local authorities. The Government have no plans to replace the current discretionary power with a statutory obligation.
	The Government wants to see local authorities act as effective and responsible community leaders, listening to the views of local people and providing services which meet their needs.
	There are no plans to legislate to alter the responsibilities of private beach owners.

Brighton and Hove Albion

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he (a) informed and (b) sought advice from (i)his Permanent Secretary and (ii) other officials before deciding (A) to meet the Chairman of Brighton and Hove Albion and (B) to accept hospitality from the club on 16 December.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information relating to internal meetings, discussion and advice is not disclosed as to do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
	The hospitality provided to my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister by Brighton and Hove Albion on 16 December consisted of a steak and kidney pie and a glass of water in the crche temporarily being used as the directors' box. This event was also attended by the directors of both clubs.

Council Tax

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much money was raised by council tax in each of the last seven years.

Phil Woolas: The council tax received in England in each of the last seven years is tabled as follows. The figures include both arrears received for previous years and prepayment of council tax for subsequent years.
	
		
			   million 
		
		
			 199899 10,579 
			 19992000 11,457 
			 200001 12,242 
			 200102 13,208 
			 200303 14,510 
			 200304 16,392 
			 200405 17,372 
		
	
	The data are as reported on QRC4 forms submitted by all billing authorities to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister each year.

Council Tax

Geraldine Smith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people were billed for council tax in 200405.

Phil Woolas: The number of council tax demand notices issued by local billing authorities in 200405 is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Details of the number of chargeable dwellings in England in 200405 are published in Table 2.2k of Local Government Financial Statistics England No. 16, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House and on the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's website at: http ://www.local.odpm.gov.uk/finance/stats/lgfs/2005/lgfs16/h/lgfs16/xlsfiles/lgfs162-2k.xls.

Council Tax

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of each response to the Department's Consultation Paper on council tax revaluation in England: publication of property information.

Phil Woolas: The responses to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Consultation Paper'Council Tax Revaluation in England: Publication of Property Information' have been made available in the Library of the House. A large majority of these are supportive of the inclusion of property details in any new council tax valuation list. A new valuation list will only be compiled at such time as a council tax revaluation takes place. There are no plans to publish additional information on property details as part of the current list.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) Executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Phil Woolas: Set out as follows are the contributions incurred by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) for financial years 200203 to 200405. The planned expenditure for bodies other than ODPM are not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In addition, the geographical split across the regions can be obtained only at disproportionate cost:
	
		000
		
			  200203 200304 200405 200506 (planned) 
		
		
			 (a) ODPM 17,025 20,414 22,103 29,855 
			 (b) (ii) Planning Inspectorate 3,080 3,240 3,292  
			 (b) (ii) The Rent Service 1,982 2,146 n/a n/a 
			 ODPM Consolidated 22,087 25,800 25,395  
			  
			 (b) (i) NDPBs 
			 English Partnerships 1,479 1,551 1,997  
			 Castle Vale Housing Action Trust 238 242 2,621 n/a 
			 Liverpool Housing Action Trust 482 430 3,581  
			 Stonebridge Housing Action Trust 153 164 311  
			 Tower Hamlets Housing Action Trust 29 1,064 n/a n/a 
			 Housing Corporation 2,340 2,960 3,200  
			 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation n/a n/a 6  
			 The Standards Board for England 143 225 327  
			 Thurrock Development Corporation n/a 3 7  
			 Valuation Tribunals Service n/a n/a 567  
			 West Northamptonshire Development Corporation n/a n/a 0  
			  
			 (b) (iii) Other bodies 
			 Commission for Local Administration 486 726 634  
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 190 208 222  
			 The Fire Service College 581 627 716  
			 Audit Commission for Local Authorities and the  National Health Service in England and Wales (28) 13,024 16,256  
			 Leasehold Advisory Service (28) (28) (28)  
		
	
	n/aData not applicable
	(28)Not disclosed
	For 200506, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect thecost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme.

Engagements

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether staff from his Department plan to attend (a) the Mass Appraisal Valuation Symposium in Vancouver, Canada on 67 February 2006, (b) the Integrating GIS and CAMA Conference in Orlando, Florida on 1922 February 2006 and (c) the International Property Tax Institute International Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August.

Phil Woolas: No staff within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will attend any of the events listed.

Engagements

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether staff from his Department attended (a) the International Property Tax Institute International Conference in Prague on 2324 August 2005, (b) the Southern African Tax Institute Workshop on the Valuation and Rating of Public Service Infrastructure on 23 June 2005 in Pretoria, South Africa and (c) the Eighth International Conference of the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation in Alicante, Spain on 2225 February 2005.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of any of its staff attending any of the events listed.

EU Funding

Danny Alexander: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of agreed changes to the EU budget on funds provided by the EU for regeneration in deprived areas of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I have been asked to reply.
	In my written statement to Parliament of 20 December 2005 I set out the impact of the EU budget settlement for the UK's future Structural Funds allocations. The UK will receive approximately 2.6 billion in Convergence funding (previously called Objective 1 funding) for its poorest regions. Cornwall and West Wales and the Valleys will receive full Convergence funding, while the Highlands and Islands will receive phasing-out Convergence funding averaging approximately two-fifths of the intervention rates for the UK's future full Convergence regions. The UK will also receive approximately 6.2 billion in Competitiveness funding for its other regions. Of this, South Yorkshire and Merseyside will receive phasing-in Competitiveness funding averaging approximately one-third of the intervention rates for the UK's future full Convergence regions. We have now started the process of deciding how the UK's remaining Competitiveness funding should be allocated between our nations and regions. Finally, the UK will receive approximately 0.6 billion in Co-operation funding. The Government will also need to agree with the Commission how this should be allocated.

Fire Service (Mobile Communications)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what use the fire service made of public mobile communications networks during the response operation to the incidents on the London Underground and bus network on 7 July 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The fire and rescue service made very limited use of the public mobile communications networks at the incidents they attended on the 7 July 2005. The public mobile phone systems are not used by the London Fire Brigade as the primary means of communication for the mobilisation of officers or appliances to attend incidents, nor to pass information from the incidents. All the primary communication systems performed efficiently on the 7 July.

Fire Service (Mobile Communications)

Bob Spink: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many instances have been recorded of the fire service using mobile phone location data to effect a rescue operation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not held centrally. The fire and rescue service is not responsible for tracking criminals.

Local Authority Allowances

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the guidance and regulations the Government have published since May 1997 on allowances for local authority members of (a) national park authorities, (b) passenger transport authorities, (c) fire authorities, (d) police authorities and (e) regional chambers.

Phil Woolas: Legislation provides that a special responsibility allowance may be payable to members representing their local authority at meetings of another body.
	Since 1997 guidance has been issued to accompany legislation on members' allowances in 2001 and 2003.
	Since 1997 the following legislation having relevance to attendance, and later special responsibility, allowances have been published:
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 1998/556 came into force: 1 April 1998
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1998/557 came into force: 1 April 1998
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 1999/1086 came into force: 30 April 1999
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1999/1087 came into force: 30 April 1999
	The Local Government Act 2000 came into force: 28 July 2001
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2001/1280 came into force: 4 May 2001
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003/1021 came into force: 1 May 2003
	The Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2003/1692 came into force: 31 July 2003

Local Government Finance

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the representations the Government has received from hotel companies and the tourism industry in relation to the reform of local government finance in the last two years.

Phil Woolas: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no record of any such representations. The Department for Culture Media and Sport have received copies of representations made by such groups to SirMichael Lyons' independent Inquiry. Sir Michael published an interim report and consultation paper on 15 December. This report lists contributors to his inquiry and understand that links to the representations received will be posted shortly on the inquiry's website at: www.lyonsinquiry.org

Pay and Work Force Strategies

Michael Fallon: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many local authorities are implementing local government pay and workforce strategies.

Phil Woolas: A People Management Survey 2005 conducted by the Employers Organisation showed that 83 per cent. of local authorities have a work force strategy in place.

Telecommunications Masts

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what recent discussions his Department has had with mobile phone operators on the siting of mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: Since the beginning of November the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has had one meeting with the Mobile Operators Association and a representative of each of the five mobile network operators, which discussed the Code of Best Practice on siting of mobile phone masts.
	Representatives of the mobile networks operators have attended a project meeting for the research to identify the future direction of mobile phone and electronic communications network technology.
	Officials have also had telephone conversations with representatives of the mobile networks operators about a number of different issues.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Ordnance Survey has provided the Valuation Office Agency with (a) aerial and (b) satellite imagery.

Phil Woolas: No.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2837W, on the Valuation Office Agency, what penalties can be levied on businesses who refuse to allow a valuation officer or his agent to conduct an internal inspection after written notice has been given of the inspection.

Phil Woolas: The maximum fine for refusing access to a valuation officer who has given notice as required of the exercise of the power of entry is level 1 on the standard scale, under legislation introduced in 1988.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information Ordnance Survey has provided to the Valuation Office Agency in relation to council tax valuations and revaluations.

Phil Woolas: No such information has been provided.

Valuation Office Agency

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether the Valuation Office Agency (a) collects and (b) collates information from local planning authorities on (i) business planning applications and (ii) residential planning applications.

Phil Woolas: The Valuation Office Agency may obtain information from local planning authorities which is relevant to its various valuation activities.

Value Bill Project

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose, (b) extent and (c) status of the Value Bill project; how much has been spent on the project to date; and what the total forecast expenditure is for the whole project.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows:
	(a) The Value Bill Project is one of the 22 Local e-Gov National. The project examined ways of effectively and efficiently linking local government and the Valuation Office Agency.
	(b) The project has achieved its objective.
	(c) This project has now completed its development phase. It was awarded grants totalling 2,660,950.00 over two years (200204). The products are now being rolled out by London Connects.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Helplines

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff will be answering calls on each of the benefit helplines at his Department from 23 December 2005 to 3 January 2006; and what the equivalent figures were for (a) 2004 and (b) 2003.

James Plaskitt: The number of people answering calls at any helpline may vary during each day in order to provide as consistent a level of service as possible to the varying volume of calls being received.
	The information that is available is recorded in the table:
	
		
			  BEL (DCS) Disability Living Child Support Agency Debt Mgmt Jobcentre Plus DirectFirst Contact Employer Direct National Benefit Fraud Hotline Pension Centres 
		
		
			 200506 
			 23 December 2005 22 348 185 30 1,762 60 33 745 
			 29 December 2005 27 264 108 16 (30)1,532 80 28 770 
			 30 December 2005 27 265 216 13 1,452 (32)71 24 709 
			 3 January 2006 38 311 445 24 1,951 250 35 767 
			  
			 200405 
			 24 December 2004 21 95 119 19 (31)n/a (33)n/a (34)n/a (35)n/a 
			 30 December 2004 27 149 169 21 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 31 December 2004 22 90 139 11 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 4 January 2005 41 306 286 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  
			 200304 
			 23 December 2003 20 206 130 (29)n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 29 December 2003 32 81 76 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 30 December 2003 38 83 114 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 31 December 2003 21 53 152 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 2 January 2004 22 208 313 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  Pension Credit App Line Pension Direct Pension Guide Order Line Future Pension Centre RP Tele Claim IPC Pension Info Order Line 
		
		
			 200506
			 23 December 2005 259 133 71 84 57 44 9 
			 29 December 2005 (36)n/a 133 44 68 52 42 8 
			 30 December 2005 n/a 133 45 82 49 40 7 
			 3 January 2006 n/a 161 45 116 95 50 7 
			 
			 200405
			 24 December 2004 n/a 155 41 60 72 (29) 0 n/a (29)(30)n/a 
			 30 December 2004 n/a 155 31 58 51 n/a n/a 
			 31 December 2004 n/a 155 46 43 36 n/a n/a 
			 4 January 2005 n/a 155 38 102 39 n/a n/a 
			 
			 200304
			 23 December 2003 n/a 141 49 (37)n/a 88 n/a n/a 
			 29 December 2003 n/a 141 61 n/a 84 n/a n/a 
			 30 December 2003 n/a 141 56 n/a 85 n/a n/a 
			 31 December 2003 n/a 141 41 n/a 62 n/a n/a 
			 2 January 2004 n/a 171 49 n/a 77 n/a n/a 
		
	
	n/a=Not available.
	(29)Debt Management figures are unavailable due to installation of new IT system.
	(30)In addition, Jobcentre Plus Direct, First Contact will have 194 staff answering calls from Scotland on 28 December 2005.
	(31)Jobcentre Plus Direct, First Contact figures are unavailable for 200304 and 200405 as, prior to the establishment of the new organisational structure in April 2004 calls, would have been dealt with right across the dispersed regional organisation.
	(32)In addition, Employer Direct will have six staff answering calls on 31 December 2005.
	(33)Employer Direct has only recently joined the Jobcentre Plus Directorate, exact figures are not available for 200304 or 200405.
	(34)National Benefit Fraud Hotline has only recently joined the Jobcentre Plus Directorate, exact figures are not available for 200304 or 200405.
	(35)Comparable Pension centre figures are not available for 200304 or 200405.
	(36)No further Pension Credit Application Line data is available.
	(37)Data for the Future Pension Centre is not available for 200304.
	(38)Data for the International Pension Centre are not available for 200304 or 200405.
	(39)Data for the Pension Information Order Line are not available for 200304 or 200405.
	Note:
	No information is available for the outsourced Winter Fuels Line.

Benefit Payment Times

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what the average time taken from application was for claimants to receive their payments of each benefit that the Department distributes in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of payments of each benefit that his Department distributes were not distributed within the target timescale in the last period for which figures are available.

Margaret Hodge: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			 Target Achievement (percentage) Average actual clearance time (days) 
		
		
			 Attendance allowance(41): clear claim in 22 days 100 17.9 
			 Attendance allowance(42): clear claim in 8 days 100 4.5 
			 Bereavement benefit/widows benefit (45)n/a 10.6 
			 Carers allowance: clear claim in 22 days 100 13.4 
			 Disability living allowance(41): clear claim in  39 days 100 34.5 
			 Disability living allowance(42): clear claim in  8 days 100 5.7 
			 Incapacity benefit: clear claim in 19 days 92.4 15.4 
			 Income support: clear claim in 12 days 95.41 11 
			 Jobseekers allowance: clear claim in 12 days 91.62 14 
			 Maternity allowance (45)n/a 11.5 
			 Pension credit: average actual clearance time  10 days(43) n/a 8.62 
			 State pension claims: clear 95 per cent. in  60 days(44) 97.05 n/a 
			 State pension claims: clear 91 per cent. in  85 days(44) 90.64 n/a 
		
	
	(41)Figures are year to date to November 2005.
	(42)Normal rules
	(43)Special rules (those cases where the claimant has a terminal illness)
	(44)Measured from when evidence requirements are met
	(45)Target applies only to non-complex cases (complex cases are those claims to state pension from customers who have been widowed or divorced and the spouse's national insurance contributions are taken into consideration).
	Note:
	Not part of any PSA or reportable performance measure and do not appear on the management information portal. We still collect data through MISP but the information is purely used as a local measurement tool.

Benefit Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of the free telephone service on the take-up of (a) crisis loans and (b) other benefits.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 23 January 2006
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment he has made of the impact of the free telephone service on the take up of (a) crisis loans and (b) other benefits. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	In areas that are covered by the new Jobcentre Plus model, the customer calls a contact centre to make a claim for any working age benefit. This call is charged at local rate, or alternatively the customer can use a dedicated Customer Access phone in their local Jobcentre free of charge. We have not undertaken any central assessment of the impact of the availability of Customer Access phones on the take-up of working age benefits.
	The free telephone service for crisis loans is not yet available in every part of the country and, therefore, we are not yet able to formally assess the impact of the service on national take-up of Crisis Loans.
	I hope this helpful.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children were living in poverty in each year since 197576, measured in terms of (a) absolute low income, (b) relative low income and (c) material deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The information requested is not available. The available information is in the tables.
	
		Children with income below 60 per cent. of 199697 median income held constant in real terms, 199405 to 200304, (absolute low income) -- Number (Million)
		
			  Below 60 per cent. median 
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 199495 3.3 4.3 
			 199596 3.2 4.4 
			 199697 3.2 4.2 
			 199798 3.0 4.0 
			 199899 2.8 3.9 
			 19992000 2.4 3.6 
			 200001 2.0 3.0 
			 200102 1.6 2.5 
			 200203 1.5 2.2 
			 200304 1.4 2.2 
		
	
	
		Children falling below 60 per cent. of contemporay median income, (relative low income) -- Number (Million)
		
			  Below 60 per cent. median 
			 FRS (GB) Before housing costs After housing costs 
		
		
			 199495 2.9 4.0 
			 199596 2.8 4.0 
			 199697 3.2 4.2 
			 199798 3.1 4.1 
			 199899 3.1 4.1 
			 19992000 3.0 4.1 
			 200001 2.7 3.8 
			 200102 2.6 3.7 
			 200203 2.6 3.6 
			 200304 2.6 3.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The Family Resources Survey (FRS) data is for all financial years 199495 until 200304. Comparisons of estimates between the two sources should be treated carefully.
	2.FRS figures are for Great Britain. The reference period for FRS figures is single financial years.
	Source:
	FRS.
	Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in 'Households Below Average Income 1994/952003/04', available in the Library. The report includes comparisons of incomes against low income thresholds, such as the commonly used relative low income threshold of 60 per cent. of contemporary median income.
	Data to measure material deprivation have been collected on the Family Resources Survey since 2004. Baseline data for the material deprivation and low income combined tier of the child poverty measure will be available in spring 2006.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children lived in workless households in each year since 197576; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: At spring 2005 there were 1.75 million children living in a household with no adult in work. Information prior to 1992 is not available; the available information is in the table.
	
		
			  Period Children in households with no one in work 
		
		
			 Spring 1992 2,224,705 
			 Spring 1993 2,312,341 
			 Spring 1994 2,420,001 
			 Spring 1995 2,370,800 
			 Spring 1996 2,292,382 
			 Spring 1997 2,126,242 
			 Spring 1998 2,132,863 
			 Spring 1999 2,080,762 
			 Spring 2000 1,900,721 
			 Spring 2001 1,841,432 
			 Spring 2002 1,899,472 
			 Spring 2003 1,820,008 
			 Spring 2004 1,782,604 
			 Spring 2005 1,752,731 
		
	
	Source:
	Household Labour Force Survey

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of children in (a) working and (b) workless households were living in relative poverty in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The seventh annual Opportunity for all report (Cm 6673) sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of indicators. Detailed information about the number and proportion of children living in low income households is published in Households Below Average Income 1994/952003/04, available in the Library. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The information requested is in the table.
	
		Percentage of children living in households with income less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income, Great Britain
		
			 200304 Percentage 
		
		
			 Before housing costs  
			 Working 13 
			 Workless 55 
			 After housing costs  
			 Working 17 
			 Workless 77 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Working households are defined as having at least one adult in work, where an adult is over 16 years of age including those above state retirement age.
	2.Workless households are defined as having no adults in work.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by what date he plans to start to measure the number of children experiencing material deprivation in the United Kingdom; what targets he will set for reducing this measure of deprivation; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Data to measure material deprivation have been collected on the Family Resources Survey since 2004. Baseline data for the material deprivation and low-income combined tier of the child poverty measure will be available in spring 2006.
	The technical note setting out details of how the child poverty PSA target announced in the 2004 Spending Review will be measured is available in the Library.

Child Support Agency

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much information relating to Child Support Agency cases in Kent has been lost due to the new IT system.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Substantive answer from James Plaskitt to Adam Holloway:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much information relating to Child Support Agency cases in Kent has been lost due to the new IT system.
	Neither the Agency nor the service supplier (EDS) are aware that any data has been lost from the new computer system (CS2) in any area of the country. Any information relating to child support cases that has been saved to the system is retained in the system.
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Customer Management Computer Systems

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what performance standards are contractually required for the provision of the Customer Management computer system; what sanctions there are for the system provider if the standards are not met; on what occasions these standards have not been met; and what action was taken as a result.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 23 January 2006
	The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has asked me to reply to your question concerning the performance standards that are contractually required for the provision of the Customer Management computer system; what sanctions there are for the system provider if the standards are not met; on what occasions these standards have not been met; and what action was taken as a result. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The contract for the Customer Management System (CMS) contains two measures of performance standards; service availability and response times.
	The CMS service availability level measures the extent to which the CMS end to end operational service is accessible for use by all CMS registered users in each Service Management Period (SMP). The service level for CMS is that the system should be available for at least 98.5 percent of the time in each SMP. This has not been met on four occasions since CMS began in October 2003.
	The other criteria that we use to measure system performance are system response times that are measured using a variety of different system transactions. These have not been met on only one occasion.
	There are sanctions for non-compliance with the service levels in the form of service credits against the service charge for the SMP. The value of the service credits increases on a pre-determined scale depending on the extent of the failure. We have claimed back the appropriate service credits on each of the five occasions that the service levels have not been met.
	Throughout, we have worked jointly with our service providers on a programme of continual and sustained service improvement resulting in a number of system releases during 2004 and 2005 to remove non-critical system defects and improve the performance and reliability of the system.
	I hope this response is helpful.

Departmental Advisers

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the costs were to his Department of external (a) consultants, (b) advisers, (c) accountants and (d) lawyers in each of the last six years.

Margaret Hodge: A breakdown into the specific categories requested is not available.
	Expenditure on externally provided management and technical support, including consultants, advisers, accountants and lawyers is as follows, however the figures cover costs for a more comprehensive definition than the categories requested. It includes management and IT consultants, staff providing professional services, including financial and legal services.
	
		
			  Total ( million) 
		
		
			 200102 169.49 
			 200203 291.52 
			 200304 412.53 
			 200405 345.63 
		
	
	Note:
	The Department for Work and Pensions was established in June 2001.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on external consultants and advisers by (a) his Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which his Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by his Department in each year since May 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Spend on external consultants and advisers since May 1997 (where available) is in the table. Spend for April 2005 to date is also given in some instances but is not yet available in every case.
	(a) The Department was established in June 2001 and information relates from this date only.
	
		The Department
		
			 Financial year  million 
		
		
			 200102 94.46 
			 200203 141.04 
			 200304 306.72 
			 200405 168.37 
		
	
	(b) (i) Each non-departmental public body. Listed are those who operate separate accounting systems, others for example the Independent Review Service and the National Employer Panel are included in the total at answer (a)
	
		The Disability Rights Commission
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200001 19,488 
			 200102 797,045 
			 200203 435,415 
			 200304 611,676 
			 200405 789,438 
		
	
	
		Private Pensions Fundestablished 6 April 2005
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 April-November 2005 576,00 
		
	
	
		Independent Living Funds(46)
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200102 56,235 
			 200203 13,363 
			 200304 35,014 
			 200405 73,151 
		
	
	(46)No figures available before 2001
	
		Pensions Ombudsman(47)
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200203 24,100 
			 200304 10,800 
			 200405 74,200 
		
	
	(47)No figures available before 200203
	
		Remploy Ltd.
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199798 740,000 
			 199899 924,000 
			 19992000 1,712,00 
			 200001 3,335,000 
			 200102 2,479,000 
			 200203 2,171,000 
			 200304 2,559,000 
			 200405 3,240,000 
		
	
	(b) (ii) Each executive agency for which the Department is responsible.
	With the exception of The Rent Service and The Health and Safety Executive listed in the table, who operate separate accounting systems, the agencies within the Department are included in the total at answer (a) . Our systems do no allow us to separate the Departmental agencies from the Departmental total.
	
		The Rent Service(48)
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 200405 14,400 
			 200506 to date 1,800 
		
	
	(48)Became part of DWP in April 2004
	
		The Health and Safety Executive
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199798 1,348,000 
			 199899 1,081,000 
			 19992000 1,773,000 
			 200001 3,775,000 
			 200102 3,702,000 
			 200203 1,881,000 
			 200304 3,180,000 
			 200405 4,111,000 
			 200506 to date 620,000 
		
	
	(c) Each independent statutory body organisation and body financially sponsored by the Department.
	
		Motability
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199798 0 
			 199899 0 
			 19992000 1,712 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 33,962 
			 200203 24,471 
			 200304 21,134 
			 200405 32,230 
		
	
	
		The Pensions Advisory Service
		
			 Financial year  
		
		
			 199798 0 
			 199899 0 
			 19992000 0 
			 200001 0 
			 200102 1,000 
			 200203 0 
			 200304 10,000 
			 200405 9,136

Economic Inactivity

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Workand Pensions if he will make a statement on the recent level of economic inactivity among young people.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1997 the proportion of the total population aged 1624 not in full-time education or work has gone down. Without this improvement the number of jobless young people not in full-time education would be 50,000 higher than it is now.
	This reflects the success of the New Deal, which has helped in virtually eradicating long-term youth unemployment.

Ethnic Minorities

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress has been made in encouraging ethnic minority recruitment within his Department.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 5 December 2005
	The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is constantly working to attract applicants from all areas of society when recruiting staff.
	Between 200304 and 200405 the success rate of job applicants from minority ethnic groups increased from 14.2 per cent. to 19.3 per cent.
	Following a continuous improvement review by an external HR consultancy, DWP has produced further good practice guidelines for all its recruiting teams to ensure that they recruit from as wide a range of people as possible.

Incapacity Benefit

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of recipients of incapacity benefit are incapacitated as a result of (a) physical disabilities or injuries, (b) stress, depression and other mental health problems and (c) drug or alcohol dependency.

Anne McGuire: The information is not available in the format requested. There is no specific group of diagnoses that covers physical disabilities or injuries. Stress, depression and other mental health problems all fall within the mental and behavioural disorders group of diagnoses, as do drug abuse and alcoholism.
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		Incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants, by diagnosis group, at 31 May 2005.
		
			  Number of IB/SDA claimants Percentage of all diagnoses 
		
		
			 All cases 2,784,000 100.0 
			 Certain infectious and parasitic diseases 21,000 0.8 
			 Neoplasms 39,900 1.4 
			 Diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain diseases involving the immune mechanism 4,500 0.2 
			 Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases 39,700 1.4 
			
			 Mental and behavioural disorders 1,086,100 39.0 
			 of which:   
			 Alcoholism 48,000 1.7 
			 Drug abuse 48,300 1.7 
			
			 Diseases of the nervous system 166,300 6.0 
			 Diseases of the eye and adnexa 19,700 0.7 
			 Diseases of the ear and mastoid process 12,100 0.4 
			 Diseases of the circulatory system 168,900 6.1 
			 Diseases of the respiratory system 65,600 2.4 
			 Diseases of the digestive system 43,300 1.6 
			 Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous system 16,900 0.6 
			 Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue 524,300 18.8 
			 Diseases of the genitourinary system 19,800 0.7 
			 Pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium 4,700 0.2 
			 Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period   
			 Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities 25,200 0.9 
			 Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified 331,400 11.9 
			 Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes 157,500 5.7 
			 Factors influencing health status and contact with health services 37,100 1.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Figures rounded to the nearest 100.
	2.'Claimant' figures include all incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disability allowance (SDA), including IB credits-only cases.
	3.Figures for the years 1997 to 1999 have been produced using the 5 per cent. data and have been rated up proportionally using the Great Britain WPLS 100 per cent. IB/SDA totals.
	4.Diagnoses are taken from the International Classification of Diseases (ICD10).
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) 100 per cent. data.

Incapacity Benefit

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the role of (a) national and (b) local voluntary organisations in partnership programmes with government agencies to support incapacity benefit recipients in gaining employment.

Margaret Hodge: We have always used voluntary and local organisations to work in partnership to deliver employment support to our customers. We intend to continue to do so in the future. The voluntary sector has a vital contribution to make in providing effective support to individuals so that they can move closer to the labour market and find a job.

Incapacity Benefit

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of incapacity benefit have been in receipt of the benefit for (a) less than one year, (b) between one and two years, (c) between two and three years, (d) between three and four years, (e) between four and five years and (f) more than five years.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer my hon. Friend the Minister for Pensions Reform gave on 8 November 2005, Official Report, column 374W to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, Central (Jim Cousins).

Jobcentre Plus

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 1774W, on Jobcentre Plus, if he will carry out a sample survey of calls from warm phones; and whether calls from a warm phone can (a) receive an engaged tone and (b) be put into a queue to be answered.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 23 January 2006
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question pursuant to the answer of 12 December 2005 on Jobcentre Plus, concerning if he will carry out a sample survey of calls from warm phones; and whether calls from a warm phone can receive (a) an engaged tone and (b) be put into a queue to be answered. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.
	Calls made from warm phones to Jobcentre Plus contact centres cannot receive an engaged tone, however they can be put into a queue for the call to be answered by an agent.
	After consideration, Jobcentre Plus has decided not to undertake a sample of calls from warm phones. Our call handling performance has improved significantly over recent months and to undertake such an exercise would not deliver sufficient benefit from the cost incurred.

Jobcentre Plus

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost has been of creating Jobcentre Plus offices in each year since 200102; and what the estimated costs are for each year to 200708.

Margaret Hodge: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. She will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 23 January 2006
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the cost of creating Jobcentre Plus offices in each year since 200102 and the estimated costs for each year to 200708. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The creation of the Jobcentre Plus network of newly designed offices began in 2001 with a number of Pathfinder offices. This phase was followed by the set up of a project in 2002 to rollout the new designs and infrastructure.
	In answer to your specific question, the overall cost of creating Jobcentre Plus offices over the period is broken down as follows:
	
		
			  Expenditure ( million) 
		
		
			 200102(49) 36.7 
			 200203(49) 259.6 
			 200304(49) 450.6 
			 200405(49) 384.1 
			 200506(50) 626.5 
			 200607(50) 283.3 
			 200708(50) 5.4 
			 Total 2,046.2 
		
	
	(49)Actual
	(50)Forecast
	I hope this is helpful.

Kvaerner Pension Fund

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with Kvaerner on the Kvaerner pension fund.

Stephen Timms: None.

Leaked Letter

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what evidence his Department has given to the Treasury inquiry into the leaking of a letter from theChancellor of the Exchequer to Lord Turner in November 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The Department has undertaken an investigation and provided a report for the Treasury inquiry.

New Deal

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work andPensions how much was spent on the New Deal in each year from 199798; how much has been allocated for each year to 200809; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 12 January 2006, Official Report, column 807W.

Occupational Health

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress on the implementation of the national strategy for occupational health.

Anne McGuire: We published, in conjunction with the Secretary of State for Health and the Chair of the Health and Safety Commission, the strategy Health, Work and Well-beingCaring for our future on 19 October. This strategy is a crucial part of delivering on the Government's commitment to improving the health and well-being of the working age population.
	Since its publication, ministerial colleagues and officials from all three organisations have been working hard to turn the strategy into actions which will make a real difference.
	Central to the strategy's success is a commitment to partnership working and one of the three key themes is Engaging Stakeholders. Plans for a range of stakeholder activities are well under way, including the organisation of a stakeholder summit involving all those with a part to play in improving and promoting the health and well-being of people of working age.
	We are also finalising arrangements for the recruitment of a national Director for Occupational Health which we intend to advertise shortly.

Pathways to Work

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what work mental health workers in Pathways to Work pilot areas undertake with participants; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: A key aim of the Condition Management Programme (CMP) is to help customers to manage their own condition and help them to focus on their potential to work. It is a cognitive educational programme rather than a treatment regime.
	All customers receive an individual assessment and are informed about the options available to them. A personal action plan is also developed with the customer and includes information on the available health interventions.
	Customers with mental health conditions typically receive support through cognitive behavioural therapy programmes. These are supported across the pilots by specific programmes such as 'Beating the Blues' in West Lancashire.

Pathways to Work

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what feedback he has received from those involved in the Pathways to Work Scheme on the scheme's effectiveness in getting those on incapacity benefit back to work.

Margaret Hodge: The Department has undertaken qualitative research with Personal Advisers (PAs) and incapacity benefit claimants. The results of that research are set out in the reports 'Incapacity Benefit Reforms; the Personal Adviser Role and Practices: Stage Two', 'National Centre for Social Research, DWP report no. 268, September 2005' and 'IB Reforms Pilot: Findings from a longitudinal panel of clients, Social Policy Research Unit, DWP report no. 259, July 2005', copies of which are in the Library.

Pension Protection Fund

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of the companies operating pension schemes which are now in an assessment period for the Pension Protection Fund had experienced an insolvency event before 6 April 2005; and how many individuals are members of those schemes.

Stephen Timms: The board of the Pension Protection Fund Board advises that of the 40 schemes currently in assessment, six had insolvency events prior to 6 April 2005, and entry to the assessment period was obtained via a second insolvency event. Every scheme that is in assessment has had an insolvency event later than 5 April 2005.
	These six schemes have 2,154 members (about ten per cent. of members in assessment).

Pensioners

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average age of retirement in the Ribble Valley was in each of the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Pensioners

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many single women pensioners in Stroud constituency are receiving assistance to bring them up to the minimum pension level.

Stephen Timms: At the end of September 2005 there were 2,000 single women pensioners in receipt of guarantee credit element of pension credit in the Stroud constituency.
	Notes:
	1.Caseloads are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2.Data from the Generalised Matching Service (GMS) 100 per cent. scan taken on 16 September 2005. The figure has been rated up to give month-end estimates. 3.These figures are early estimates. Operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in the figures. The final figures incorporated within the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) will take account of such cases. 4.Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. data.

Pensions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of mean average earnings the single person's basic state pension represented in each year since the link between uprating and earnings was broken.

Stephen Timms: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  Full basic state pension as a percentage of mean average earnings 
		
		
			 1980 24.6 
			 1981 23.7 
			 1982 24.1 
			 1983 23.0 
			 1984 22.5 
			 1985 22.4 
			 1986 21.0 
			 1987 19.9 
			 1988 18.8 
			 1989 18.2 
			 1990 17.8 
			 1991 18.3 
			 1992 17.8 
			 1993 17.7 
			 1994 17.7 
			 1995 17.4 
			 1996 17.4 
			 1997 17.0 
			 1998 16.5 
			 1999 16.4 
			 2000 15.9 
			 2001 16.1 
			 2002 16.0 
			 2003 15.9 
			 2004 15.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The link with earnings was broken in November 1980.
	2.The average earnings figure is for full-time employees in the April of that year and has been taken from the New Earnings Survey prior to 1998 and from Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings since 1998.
	3.The year refers to the year of uprating. From 1980 to 1985 this took place in November, in 1986 it occurred in July and since 1987 annual uprating has taken place in April.
	Source:
	2004 Annual Abstract of Statistics published by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of using the same rules to credit people into entitlement to the state second pension as exist to credit people into entitlement for the basic state pension in (a) 200506, (b) 2010, (c) 2020, (d) 2030, (e) 2040 and (f) 2050; and how many (i) men and (ii) women he estimates would benefit in each year.

Stephen Timms: The information is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 7 December 2005, Official Report, column 1374W, on pensions, to the right hon. and learned Member for Kensington and Chelsea (Sir Malcolm Rifkind), if he will provide his latest estimate of the number of (a) pension scheme members who have lost pension savings as a result of their pension scheme winding up, (b) pension schemes which have completed the wind-up process since 1997 and which are not included in these figures and (c) people who have lost pension savings as a result.

Stephen Timms: With regard to part (a) and (c) of the question, the information is not available. The Government is currently inviting notifications from affected pension schemes to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), and is therefore obtaining some information on the number of members facing pensions losses due to company insolvency. In due course, information will also be collected on individual members in schemes qualifying for FAS. Based on our most recent data collection for the FAS, we know of around 70,000 non pensioner members in schemes that are potentially eligible for assistance from the FAS as a result of their schemes being wound up in circumstances of insolvency or where the employer no longer exists.
	With regard to part (b) of the question, information in the following table was provided by the Pensions Regulator and shows the number of schemes that have wound up each year since 2 April 1997. This includes all schemes that have wound up, whether fully funded or under funded. The Pensions Regulator only holds the present status of a scheme and only those schemes that have completed winding up procedures are included in these figures.
	
		
			 Effective date scheme status was changed register to 'wound up' Number of schemes Total membership 
		
		
			 2 April 1997 to 31 March 1998 8,248 54,439 
			 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 7,708 71,351 
			 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 8,462 64,608 
			 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 6,720 65,510 
			 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 5,822 128,060 
			 1 April 2002 to 31 March 2003 6,250 145,039 
			 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004 6,316 127,839 
			 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 4,328 78,878 
			 Total 53,854 735,724 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.A wound up scheme is one which has notified the Pensions Regulator (or its predecessor the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority) that it has completed winding up procedures.
	2.Schemes are required to notify the Pensions Regulator of changes in scheme status as soon as is reasonably practical. This means that the data for the year ended 31 March 2005 is provisional.
	3.The figures are based on information held on the register as at 11 January 2006. The effective date for the completion of wind up is based on the last scheme status change date.
	4.Figures for 19978 commence on 2 April 1997 because, where the date at which the scheme completed winding up procedures, prior to 1 April 1997 cannot be ascertained, a default value of 1 April 1997 is used as the date on which the scheme wound up. As a result a very large number of schemes are recorded as wound up with a scheme status change date of 1 April 1997, even if they had wound up at some earlier date. Including schemes with this default date in the table would significantly overstate the number of schemes that wound up during 1997, so a start date of 2 April has been used for 199798.
	5.Total membership includes active, deferred and pensioner members. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of these numbers.
	6.During 200506 the Pensions Regulator will continue with its plans to issue a scheme return form to all occupational pension schemes that are registered in the UK. This will provide the Pension Regulator with access to enhanced data in future years.

Pensions

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the (a) Chancellor of the Exchequer and (b) Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on transferring responsibility for overseeing public sector pensions to his Department.

Stephen Timms: My right hon. Friend has had no such discussions.

Pensions

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost of paying the basic state pension to all pensioners aged 75 years and above regardless of contributions (a) assuming an earnings link from 201011 and (b) continuing the present uprating policy in (i) each of the next four years, (ii) 2010, (iii) 2020, (iv) 2030, (v)2040 and (vi) 2050.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is as follows:
	Part (a)  
	
		Great Britain --  billion(51)
		
			  Gross cost Net of IRBs Net of IRBs and tax 
		
		
			 2006 2.0 1.4 1.4 
			 2007 2.0 1.5 1.4 
			 2008 2.1 1.5 1.5 
			 2009 2.2 1.6 1.5 
			 2010 2.6 1.8 1.7 
			 2020 8.4 4.7 4.2 
			 2030 18.1 9.2 8.0 
			 2040 34.0 16.6 14.2 
			 2050 55.4 26.7 22.8 
		
	
	(51)200506 price terms.
	Part (b)  
	
		Great Britain --  billion(52)
		
			  Gross cost Net of IRBs Net of IRBs and tax 
		
		
			 2006 2.0 1.4 1.4 
			 2007 2.0 1.5 1.4 
			 2008 2.1 1.5 1.5 
			 2009 2.2 1.6 1.5 
			 2010 2.2 1.6 1.5 
			 2020 2.7 1.9 1.9 
			 2030 2.2 1.6 1.6 
			 2040 2.1 1.5 1.5 
			 2050 2.3 1.7 1.6 
		
	
	(52)200506 price terms.
	Notes:
	1.The policy change is assumed to take place from 200607. In part (a) the Basic State Pension (BSP) is assumed to be uprated by prices growth (including underpin) in 200607, 200708, 200809, 200910 and uprated by earnings growth from 201011. In part (b) it is assumed that the BSP would be uprated by prices growth (plus underpin).
	2.Gross costs are estimated by the Government Actuary's Department and are consistent with the pre-Budget report 2005 assumptions.
	3.Savings in income-related benefit (IRBs) such as pension credit and housing benefit, and potential increases in tax revenue, are estimated using the DWP policy simulation model and April 2006 benefit rates. Savings are assumed to be a constant proportion of the estimated gross cost over time.

Poverty

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what measure of poverty his Department uses; and how many people his Department defined as poor in (a) the UK and (b) Stroud constituency in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Poverty is about more than low income. It is also about health, housing, education and the quality of the environment. The seventh annual Opportunity for all report (Cm 6673), published in October 2005, sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Specific information regarding individuals living in low income households is published in Households Below Average Income 1994/952003/04, available in the Library. The report includes estimates of relative low income, absolute low income, and persistent low income. A household is defined as experiencing relative low income if it has an income below a relative low income threshold, such as the commonly used relative threshold of 60 per cent. of contemporary median. A household is defined as experiencing absolute low income if it has an income below an absolute low income threshold, such as the commonly used absolute threshold of 60 per cent. of median from an historic year that has been adjusted for inflation. The Households Below Average Income report currently uses the 199607 median for absolute low income estimates. A household is defined as experiencing persistent low income if it has experienced relative low income for three or four years out of four consecutive years.
	The number and percentage of individuals living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median incomeknown as relative low incomefrom 199607 to 200304 are presented in the following table. Figures are presented for Great Britain as results for the United Kingdom are only available from 200203 onwards and are not available below regional level.
	
		Number and percentage of individuals with incomes less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median, Great Britain
		
			  Before housing costs After housing costs 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 199697 10.2 18 13.8 25 
			 199798 10.2 18 13.3 24 
			 199899 10.2 18 13.2 24 
			 19992000 10.0 18 13.2 24 
			 200001 9.6 17 12.7 23 
			 200102 9.6 17 12.3 22 
			 200203 9.7 17 12.2 22 
			 200304 9.6 17 12.0 21 
		
	
	Note:
	The table shows percentages rounded to the nearest percentage point, and numbers in millions rounded to the nearest 100,000.

Staff Allocations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed to work on (a) crisis loans, (b) jobseeker's allowance and (c) incapacity benefit in each of the past 24 months.

James Plaskitt: The information requested is not available.
	Jobcentre Plus, in line with other parts of the Department for Work and Pensions, collect staffing information by grade/location and not job role.

Staff Discipline

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employees have been dismissed by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The Department informs staff what is expected of them and the consequences of non-compliance through the Department's Standards of Behaviour policy. The Department has procedures in place in accordance with the Dispute Resolution Regulations 2004 to deal with issues of misconduct, unsatisfactory performance or attendance and where it is deemed appropriate this could lead to dismissal. All of the policies and procedures are available to staff through the Department's internal HR website.
	Information on the numbers of dismissals from the Department for each of the financial years from March 2002 to March 2005 is in the following table.
	
		
			 Financial year Number of dismissals 
		
		
			 200102 524 
			 200203 367 
			 200304 416 
			 200405 497 
		
	
	Note:
	Numbers of dismissals are permanent staff expressed as headcount

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Administrative Costs

Angus Robertson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) England and (b) London; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Bridget Prentice: The total administration costs outturn of the core Department, which includes the Court Service and Public Guardianship Office, in 200405 was 915 million. It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information of the administration costs of the functions carried out by thecore Department in (a) England and (b) London in the last year without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. The Department does not monitor national, regional or London administration costs separately and it is a matter for the devolved Administrations how they control their own administration costs.

Administrative Costs

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs which functions of her core Department are carried out in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales; and what administration costs were associated with these functions for each area in the last year.

Bridget Prentice: The total administration costs outturn of the core Department, which includes the Court Service and Public Guardianship Office, in 200405 was 915 million. It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information of the administration costs of the functions carried out by thecore Department in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) Wales in the last year without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. The Department does not monitor national or regional administration costs separately and it is a matter for the devolved Administrations how they control their own administration costs.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what has been the annual expenditure on vehicles for (a) her Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506.

Harriet Harman: Since its inception in June 2003, my Department's annual expenditure on vehicles was as follows:
	
		
			  200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 (a) DCA and Court Service/HMCS(53) 1,722,281 1,629,818 2,350,236 
			 (b) (i) Legal Services Commission 0 0 0 
			 Information Commissioner 0 0 0 
			 
			 ii) Public Guardianship Office 0 0 0 
			 
			 (iii) Information on annual expenditure by other public bodies for which the Department is responsible is not held centrally and could be obtained now only at disproportionate cost.
		
	
	(53)Expenditure for CS/HMCS cannot be separated without incurring disproportionate cost.
	For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the Chief Executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the annual expenditure on (a) fixtures and fittings, (b) general office expenses and (c) office equipment was of her (i) Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C) other public body for which her Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3)each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506 in each case.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information as requested in the question without incurring disproportionate costs.
	The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. The Department does not monitor national, regional or London administration costs separately and it is a matter for the devolved Administrations how they control their own administration costs.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what expenditure on (a) buildings and (b) insurance of buildings and staff was of (i) her Department and (ii) each (A) non-departmental public body, (B) executive agency and (C)other public body for which her Department is responsible in (1) Scotland, (2) Wales, (3) each English region and (4) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 200506 in each case.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information as requested in the question without incurring disproportionate costs. However, the Department does not incur any costs to insure any of its buildings as the Crown carries the risk.
	The administration budgets regime overseen by the Treasury relates to Whitehall Departments only. The Department does not monitor national or regional London administration costs separately and it is a matter for the devolved Administrations how they control their own administration costs.

Departmental Estate

Pete Wishart: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will list the former (a) buildings and (b) land of (i) her Department and (ii) (A) non-departmental public bodies, (B)agencies and (C) independent statutory bodies for which her Department is responsible which have been sold since 7 May 1997; what the sale price of each (1) was at the time of sale and (2) is at current prices; and whether the money accrued was (x) retained by her Department and (y) claimed by the Treasury.

Bridget Prentice: It is not possible for the Department to provide full detailed information as requested in the question without incurring disproportionate costs.

Departmental Phone Directories

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the most recent internal phone directory for the Department was published; how often it is updated; and if she will place a copy in the Library.

Harriet Harman: My Department no longer produces a paper copy departmental telephone directory so I am unable to place a copy in the Library. Since 1999, our telephone directory has been available electronically on the Department's intranet site and it is updated on a regular basis.

Departmental Vehicles

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many cars are (a) owned and (b) leased by her Department; what models the cars are; what type of petrol each model requires; and what the fuel efficiency is of each model.

Harriet Harman: My Department currently uses a fleet of 685 leased and owned vehicles as detailed in the following tables.
	The fuel efficiency of all models listed are in accordance with the relevant manufacturers published guidelines. The Department has not collected a complete listing for each model and could be obtained now only at disproportionate cost.
	For vehicles provided to Government Departments by the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport has asked the Chief Executive of the GCDA to write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	
		(a) Cars Owned by Department
		
			Fuel 
			 Make Model Quantity Diesel Hybrid 
		
		
			 Ford Focus 7 7 0 
			  Fiesta 22 22 0 
			  Mondeo 1 1 0 
			  
			 Citroen Xsara Picasso 15 15 0 
			  
			 Renault Laguna 3 3 0 
			  Megane 1 1 0 
			  
			 Toyota Prius 2 0 2 
			  
			 Mercedes Vito 2 2 0 
			  
			 Peugeot 806 7 7 0 
			  307 2 2 0 
			  308 1 1 0 
			  Partner Van 1 1 0 
			  
			 Vauxhall Movano Van 1 1 0 
			 Totals  65 63 2 
		
	
	
		(b) Cars Leased by Department
		
			Fuel 
			 Make Model Quantity Diesel Unleaded LPG 
		
		
			 Audi A3 9 9 0 0 
			   
			 Citroen Berlingo 7 7 0 0 
			  C3 76 60 16 0 
			  C4 7 6 1 0 
			  C5 44 41 3 0 
			  Saxo 5 5 0 0 
			  Xsara Picasso 301 276 25 0 
			   
			 Ford Focus 20 20 0 0 
			  Fusion 4 4 0 0 
			  Galaxy 3 2 1 0 
			  Mondeo 11 11 0 0 
			  Transit 6 6 0 0 
			  Fiesta 4 4 0  
			   
			 Mercedes Sprinter Van 1 1 0 0 
			  Vito 2 0 0 2 
			 Peugeot 206 4 2 2 0 
			  307 11 11 0 0 
			  407 3 3 0 0 
			  406 3 3 0 0 
			  607 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 Renault Laguna 2 2 0 0 
			  Modus 1 1 0 0 
			  Clio 1 1 0 0 
			  Megane 3 3 0 0 
			   
			 Skoda Octavia 4 4 0 0 
			  Fabio 6 6 0 0 
			   
			 Toyota Corolla 3 3 0 0 
			   
			 Vauxhall Astra 35 28 0 7 
			  Corsa 6 6 0 0 
			  Meriva 1 1 0 0 
			  Vectra 5 5 0 0 
			  Zafira 1 1 0 0 
			  Omega 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Volvo S40 1 1 0 0 
			  S80 1 1 0 0 
			  V40 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 Volkswagen Golf 10 10 0 0 
			  Polo 2 2 0 0 
			  Passat 1 1 0 0 
			  Beetle 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 BMW 3.16 1 1 0 0 
			  3.18 1 1 0 0 
			   
			 Mini Cooper 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Mazda Mazda 6 1 0 1 0 
			  RX8 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Saab Saab 93 2 0 2 0 
			   
			 Nissan X-Trail 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Rover 75 2 0 2 0 
			  25 1 0 1 0 
			  MG 1 0 1 0 
			   
			 Totals  620 552 59 9

Dukedom of Leinster

Katy Clark: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will make a statement on the disputed claim to the Dukedom of Leinster.

Harriet Harman: The Dukedom of Leinster is the Premier Dukedom of Ireland created by Letters Patent in 1766. Gerald Fitzgerald the late 8th Duke of Leinster formerly sat in the House of Lords by virtue of a Viscountcy of Great Britain. This Viscountcy was created by Letters Patent in 1747.
	The late 8th Duke had proved his succession to the Viscountcy of Great Britain and took his seat on 21 October 1976 on the death of his father Edward the 7th Duke who died in March 1976. The late 8th Duke subsequently established formally his succession to the Dukedom in March 1977. Following the 8th Duke's death in December 2004, his only son Maurice Fitzgerald submitted a claim through the Crown Office, to prove his succession to the peerage.
	A competing claim to the title has also been submitted on behalf of Paul Maurice Fitzgerald who claims to be the true heir apparent of the 5th Duke.
	Both claims are presently under consideration by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.

Electoral Administration

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 236W, on electoral administration, whether, when the Electoral Administration Bill is enacted, political parties will continue to have access to the data from marked registers (a) during and (b) after elections.

Harriet Harman: The marked register of electors is compiled on the day of poll. Access to this, therefore, is limited to after an election. Political parties will continue to have access to the marked registers, following an election, under the provisions within the Electoral Administration Bill.

Judicial Appointments Commission

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made with the setting up of the Judicial Appointments Commission in Northern Ireland.

Bridget Prentice: The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission was established on 15 June 2005. It is chaired by the Lord Chief Justice for Northern Ireland with 12 other members, including five members of the Judiciary, five lay members, a barrister and a solicitor.

Magistrates Courts (Gravesham)

Adam Holloway: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether magistrates courts staff in Gravesham took strike action in December 2005.

Harriet Harman: The Department has been engaged in discussions on pay throughout 2005 with the unions representing staff subject to former magistrates courts service (MCS) terms and conditions of service. The Department made a pay offer which officials believe is fair given the current economic circumstances, public sector pay awards generally and what the Department could afford. The unions rejected this, and industrial action commenced with a one-day strike on 20 December 2005.
	Union members at Chatham magistrates court did take action, although no staff took action at Dartford. Contingency plans worked well with both courts remaining open to the public. All essential services continued to be delivered.

Prisoners (Right to Vote)

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the timetable is for the Government's formal response to the European Court of Human Rights ruling on giving prisoners the right to vote; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The judgment raises a number of complex issues which will need careful consideration, including, in particular, what specific measures may need to be taken to implement it. The Government are giving urgent consideration to the judgment, and will indicate what steps it intends to take next shortly.

Small Claims

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what research has been (a) conducted and (b) commissioned into the impact of the recommendation of the Better Regulation Task Force to raise the small claims limit for personal injury claims.

Bridget Prentice: The Better Regulation Task Force in its report, 'Better Routes to Redress' recommended that research should be carried out into the potential impact of raising the small claims limit for personal injury cases from the current limit of 1,000. The Government indicated that it would carry out this research and would also consider other options for dealing with these claims in a more proportionate and cost effective way. This work is currently under way.

Suspicious Deaths

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs whether a coroner can make a recommendation that the police re-open their inquiries in the case of a suspicious death where no charges have previously been brought.

Harriet Harman: Where a coroner considers from evidence given at the inquest that a person might be charged with a homicide offence, rule 28 of the Coroners Rules 1984 provides that he must adjourn the inquest for 14 days and send particulars of the evidence to the Director of Public Prosecutions or Crown Prosecution Service. If a coroner or jury returns an unlawful killing verdict at the inquest there will an expectation that the matter will be referred to the CPS for consideration.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children under the age of five attended the accident and emergency department in hospitals in England in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of children under the age of five admitted to accident and emergency departments in hospitals in England in the last 12 months were subsequently taken into care by social services;
	(3)  what proportion of children under the age of five who attended accident and emergency departments in hospitals in England in the last 12 months were treated for conditions related to the consumption of inappropriate objects;
	(4)  how many children under the age of five years attended the accident and emergency department in hospitals in (a) Hull and (b) the East Riding in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The comprehensive data requested are not currently collected centrally.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence she used when setting the target of 98 per cent. of patients being seen within fourhours of attendance at accident and emergency departments.

Liam Byrne: Studies show that almost all patients, withno non-clinical delays, should be able to complete their treatment in an accident and emergency (AE) department within four hours.
	The 98 per cent. minimum operating standard was set to allow for the minority of patients who clinically require more than four hours in AE. It followed a wide consultation with clinicians and their representative organisations.

Ambulance Service

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many emergency calls were answered within the Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what proportion of emergency calls resulted in an ambulance arriving at the scene of the reported incident within the Government's target response times in Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The numbers of emergency calls answered by each ambulance service from 200005 are published in table 3 of the statistical bulletin, Ambulance services, England: 200405. This is available in the Library and on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/11/36/79/04113679.pdf.
	Reported performance for Staffordshire Ambulance Services National Health Service Trust, for the years 200001 to 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		
			  Percentage of category A calls responded to within 8 minutes Percentage of category A calls responded to within 19 minutes Percentage of category B/C calls responded to within 19 minutes Percentage of arrivals not more than 15 minutes late, for urgent journeys 
		
		
			 200001 87.4 99.8 99.6 93.3 
			 200102 87.5 99.6 99.6 91.1 
			 200203 86.4 99.8 99.7 92.6 
			 200304 86.6 99.7 99.7 95.1 
			 200405 88.3 99.8 (54)99.8 95.1 
		
	
	(54)Data for category B calls for the period October 2004 to March 2005.
	Further information can be found in the statistical bulletin.

Ambulance Service

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will encourage ambulance services to promote the use of the In Case of Emergency contact numbers stored in mobile handsets.

Liam Byrne: The Department is supportive of initiatives that encourage members of the public to carry with them emergency contact details in case of need. As there are a number of such initiatives, it is for ambulance trusts to make local decisions on whether to promote an initiative and whether to endorse one initiative over another.

Ambulance Service

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she issues to ambulance trusts on the purchase of ambulances.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 16 January 2006
	For the outright purchase of accident and emergency ambulances, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has the accident and emergency national framework agreement to provide ambulances at nationally negotiated discounted rates.
	The framework commenced in June 2003 and expires in May 2006. However, an extension period of one year has already been agreed with key stakeholders. Suppliers awarded to the framework are compliant with the Committee for European Standardisation, which incorporates number BS EN 1789 of the British Standards Institute list as best practice and relates to any stretcher-bearing vehicle. Achievement of compliance requires a supplier to undertake extensive engineering testing and investment via an independent United Kingdom test house.

Ambulance Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many ambulances are available to each hospital in (a) Southend, (b) Essex and (c) Hertfordshire; and how many were available in (i) 1990, (ii) 1995, (iii) 2000 and (iv) 2003.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Assessment Care Plans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what account her Department takes of the supporting people assessment in the guidance for the single assessment process; and how the resulting single assessment care plan operates in relation to the support plan.

Liam Byrne: Guidance on the single assessment process (SAP) does not formally extend to housing authorities or other statutory agencies. However, it is recognised that, for many older people, housing services can make important contributions to promoting independence and well-being. Where possible, local national health service bodies and councils are encouraged to engage with housing authorities as they implement the SAP. In addition, where local assessment for housing services has been incorporated into the SAP for older people, it is also expected that all services which are provided are reflected in the care plan and any associated support plan.
	Furthermore, as the hon. Member will be aware from replies given by the Minister for Local Government, the hon. Member for Oldham, East and Saddleworth (Mr.Woolas) on 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 197071W, there is no standardised process for supporting people assessments.

Assessment Care Plans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what role her Department has in assessment of people applying for access to an Extra Care scheme under the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Supporting People scheme.

Liam Byrne: Extra care housing is available through local authorities (LAs), housing associations and private providers. Access to extra care housing is not governed or determined by the supporting people programme, although supporting people funding may contribute to an individual's ongoing extra care costs, where housing related support is needed.
	Housing related support is not assessed through the single assessment process. LAs consider individual needs depending on each set of personal circumstances. If accommodation is required as part of a needs assessment or a change in needs, decisions are made following consultation with the individual about their preferences, housing provision in the area and any statutory obligations that arise.

Assessment Care Plans

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to revise single assessment process guidance to cover (a) housing-related needs and (b) housing-related service options.

Liam Byrne: There are no plans at this time to revise the single assessment process (SAP) guidance to cover housing-related needs and housing-related service options. However, as set out in the Office of Deputy Prime Minister consultation, Creating Sustainable Communities: Supporting People, work is planned to consider how housing-related support might be made part of integrated assessment processes. We will consider at the appropriate time whether this work might require changes to SAP or other relevant guidance.

Barts and the London NHS Trust

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will decide whether to support the redevelopment of Barts and the London NHS Trust by 31 January.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 19 January 2006
	North East of London strategic health authority have commissioned a review of the proposed redevelopment of St. Bartholomew's in the context of the existing cancer and cardiac services in London. They should be in a position to make a recommendation once they have had the opportunity to consider its findings.

Brain Tumours (Treatment)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken by her Department to improve access to rehabilitation services for brain tumour patients.

Liam Byrne: The Department scoping study is looking at rehabilitation services, including those for brain tumour patients, currently provided by the national health service and social care, with the aim of:
	mapping levels of provision and models of service and, where possible, the cost-effectiveness of rehabilitative services;
	identifying any gaps in provision;
	identifying good practice exemplars; and
	identifying opportunities to improve services
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is producing guidance on Improving Outcomes in Brain and Other Central Nervous System Tumours. It will include advice on rehabilitation services for patients with these forms of cancer. A second draft of this guidance has recently been consulted on and the final guidance is due to be issued in June 2006.

Child Health (West Cheshire)

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under the age of 10 years in (a) West Cheshire Primary Care Trust and (b) Eddisbury constituency have (i) osteogenesis imperfecta and (ii) ligamentous laxity.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not held centrally.

Children's Hospices

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance has been issued to primary care trusts about commissioning care from children's hospices;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the funding of children's hospices,
	(3)  if she will list the sums paid to children's hospices by each primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 24 November 2005
	In our guide Commissioning Children's and Young People's Palliative Care Services, launched on 29 November 2005, we give commissioners important advice about the key aspects of children's palliative care which will improve the quality of commissioning and provision of services. This practical guide will stimulate improvements in commissioning and promote quality care for children, young people and their families in a range of settings, for example, palliative care at home, in hospital or in a hospice.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) working with their local authority partners and stakeholders, remain best placed to decide the level and range of palliative care needed by the children and young people in their locality and are able to respond directly to their needs. We have extended our manifesto pledge to increase funding for end of life care to include care for children and young people. We will make further announcements on this funding as soon as we can.
	Information is not collected centrally on the amount of funding children's hospices receive from PCTs.

Continuing Care

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2006, Official Report, column 574W, on continuing care, for what reasons the number of people in receipt of continuing care has increased.

Liam Byrne: Work by the national health service to improve consistency and equity of access to NHS funded continuing care, coupled with increases in population needs, are thought to be the reasons for this increase.

Contracting for Services

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures her Department has taken to ensure that the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's 'Guidance on Contracting for Services in the light of the Human Rights Act 1998' published in March has been brought to the attention of (a) chief executives, (b) directors of social services, (c) NHS trusts and (d) those who contract with independent care homes and domiciliary providers.

Rosie Winterton: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's 'Guidance on Contracting for Services in the light of the Human Rights Act 1998' is available on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/12/38/46/04123846.pdf In addition, the 'Chief Executive Bulletin' (issue 297, 26 November-1 December 2005) alerted all national health service and council chief executives and directors of social services that guidance had been published. This is also available on the Department's website at: www.dh.gov.uk/Publications AndStatistics/Bulletins/ChiefExecutiveBulletin/BulletinCE/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4123953chk= 56chNG#5531805

Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department will reply to the letter of 19 October from the right hon. Member for Warley regarding the campaign on rehabilitation services for blind and partially sighted people.

Jane Kennedy: A reply was sent on 12 December 2005.

Dentistry

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of dental health; what the rate of tooth decay is in (a) adults and (b) children; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 December 2005
	The Department commissions decennial surveys of the dental health of adults and children, which show major improvements in the oral health of the population.
	The 1998 National Adult Dental Health showed that the proportion of adults with no natural teeth had fallen from 37 per cent, in 1968 to 12 per cent. in 1998. The 2003 National Child Dental Health Survey showed that the proportion of 12 year old children with decayed, missing and filled teeth had fallen from 93 per cent. in 1973 to 38 per cent. in 2003. 12 year old children in England now have the best oral health of their age group in Europe.
	The Government recognises that major inequalities in oral health remain. For example, in 2003, the probability of having obvious decay experience of the primary teeth was about 50 per cent. higher in the lowest social group than in the highest social group. The Department published a new oral health plan for England, 'Choosing Better Oral Health,' in November 2005. This sets out a range of measures that have the potential to reduce these inequalities including the fluoridation of water supplies. The Government have amended the legislative framework governing fluoridation to give people in areas with high levels of dental decay a real option of having their water fluoridated.

Dentistry

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists were practising in England in each of the last eight years, broken down by (a) county and (b) London borough.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested, provided by local health authority or London borough, has been placed in the Library.

Dentistry

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in Beverley and Holderness were registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

Rosie Winterton: The available information, at primary care trust (PCT) level, is shown in the table.
	
		Proportion of patients registered in PCTs serving the Beverley and Holderness constituency as at 30 September each year -- Percentage
		
			   East Yorkshire PCT Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT 
		
		
			 1997 46.8 45.0 
			 1998 44.2 38.0 
			 1999 42.9 40.8 
			 2000 43.1 41.4 
			 2001 43.1 41.0 
			 2002 43.6 39.5 
			 2003 42.6 38.8 
			
			 2004 39.6 39.6 
			 2005 40.1 35.7 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.2004 and 2005 data includes General Dental Service (CDS) and Personal Dental Service (PDS) registrations/PDS patients seen (counts patients seen in the past 15 months for some PDS schemes).
	2.Data for 2003 and earlier do not include those PDS schemes that do not have any registrations (eg Dental Access Centres), and is therefore not directly comparable with 2004 and 2005 data.
	3.Most PDS schemes that have registrations have re-registration periods in excess of fifteen months, so the figures for PDS schemes are generally higher than they would have been for the same attendance pattern under GDS.
	4.Proxy registrations are not available at constituency level.
	5.19972000 percentages have been calculated using 2001 population data.
	6.2005 percentages have been calculated using 2004 population data.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of children in Beverley and Holderness constituency are registered with an NHS dentist.

Rosie Winterton: Information on children registered with a dentist at constituency level is not available as a percentage of the total number of children because population data is not available at constituency level.
	Table one gives the total number of children registered with a dentist since 1997 in Beverley and Holderness.
	
		Table 1: General Dental Services (GDS) and Personal Dental Services (PDS)Number of children registered with a national health service dentist in Beverley and Holderness constituency, East Yorkshire primary care trust (PCT) and Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT as at 30 September each year. Beverley and Holderness constituency is served by both PCT's.
		
			  Beverley and Holderness constituency East Yorkshire PCT Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT 
		
		
			 1997 10,915 23,669 16,558 
			 1998 10,614 22,747 14,802 
			 1999 10,956 22,306 15,442 
			 2000 12,258 23,488 15,752 
			 2001 12,476 22,644 16,038 
			 2002 12,312 22,730 15,439 
			 2003 12,087 22,005 15,210 
			 
			 2004 11,676 21,650 15,048 
			 2005 11,277 21,819 13,921 
		
	
	Table two shows the percentage of children registered in each of the local PCTs.
	
		Table 2: Proportion of children registered with a dentist in East Yorkshire PCT and Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT as at 30 September in each specified year -- Percentage
		
			   East Yorkshire PCT Yorkshire Wolds and Coast PCT 
		
		
			 1997 64.6 54.5 
			 1998 62.1 48.8 
			 1999 60.9 50.9 
			 2000 64.1 51.9 
			 2001 61.8 52.9 
			 2002 62.1 50.4 
			 2003 60.2 49.7 
			
			 2004 59.3 49.2 
			 2005 59.8 45.5 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.2004 and 2005 data include GDS and PDS registrations/PDS patients seen (counts patients seen in the past 15 months for some PDS schemes).
	2.Data for 2003 and earlier do not include those PDS schemes that do not have any registrations (e.g. dental access centres), and is therefore not directly comparable with 2004 and 2005 data.
	3.Most PDS schemes that have registrations have re-registration periods in excess of fifteen months, so the figures for PDS schemes are generally higher than they would have been for the same attendance pattern under GDS.
	4.Proxy registrations are not available at constituency level.
	5.1997 to 2000 percentages have been calculated using 2001 population data.
	6.2005 percentages have been calculated using 2004 population data.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board

Dentistry

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the report Meeting the Challenges of Oral Health for Older People: A Strategic Review, published in December 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The review undertaken by the British Society of Gerodontology provides welcome guidance on ways of improving education, training and service provision to meet more effectively the oral health care needs of older people. This is likely to help the national health service build on the major improvements already achieved in the oral health of older people.
	The 1998 National Adult Dental Health showed that the proportion of adults with no natural teeth had fallen from 37 per cent. in 1968 to 12 per cent. in 1998. However, as recognised in the report of the Primary Care Dental Workforce Review published in 2004, people who keep their teeth have a greater need for oral hygiene advice and support and for restorative dental treatment.
	This additional demand was one of the reasons why, in response to the report, the Government undertook measures to expand the dental workforce by recruiting the equivalent of an extra 1,000 whole-time NHS dentists and providing for an extra 170 dental training places each year from 2005.

Dentistry

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Westmorland and Lonsdale were registered with an NHS dentist in each of the last 10 years for which records are available.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 January 2006
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General dental services (GDS) and personal dental services (PDS), number of people registered with a national health service dentist in Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency in September each year
		
			  Number of patients 
		
		
			 1997 58,994 
			 1998 54,923 
			 1999 56,870 
			 2000 58,751 
			 2001 59,400 
			 2002 58,926 
			 2003 54,793 
			   
			 2004 53,642 
			 2005 45,857 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.2004 and 2005 data include GDS and PDS registrations/PDS patients seen (counts patients seen in the past 15 months for some PDS schemes).
	2.Data for 2003 and earlier do not include those PDS schemes that do not have any registrations, for example, dental access centres, and is therefore not directly comparable with 2004 and 2005 data.
	3.Most PDS schemes that have registrations have re-registration periods in excess of 15 months, so the figures for PDS schemes are generally higher than they would have been for the same attendance pattern under GDS.
	4.This information was provided by the Dental Practice Board and relates to patients registered with dentists whose practice address postcodes are within the constituency boundary.
	Source:
	Dental Practice Board.

Dentistry

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the population in the area served by Croydon Primary Care Trust was registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is provided in the table.
	
		General dental services and personal dental servicesestimated percentage of the population registered in Croydon primary care trust as at 30 September each year
		
			  Estimated percentage of population 
		
		
			 1997 56 
			 1998 45 
			 1999 47 
			 2000 44 
			 2001 44 
			 2002 44 
			 2003 45 
			 2004 41 
			 2005 42 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.The percentages of the population registered with a dentist (or registration rate) have been estimated by including patient registrations in the area of the dentist, that is according to the postcode of the dental surgery and not the patient's address. So the registration rates for some areas may be affected by some patients receiving dental treatment in a different area from the one in which they live.
	2.Estimates have been calculated using population estimates for the nearest year for which data are available. 19972000 percentages have been calculated using 2001 population estimates. 2005 percentages have been calculated using 2004 population estimates.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre

Dentistry

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to training dentists in each of the last 30 years at 200506 prices.

Rosie Winterton: The historical information requested is not held centrally.
	The Higher Education Council for England is responsible for the academic costs of training and the Department is responsible for the clinical costs. At current prices the average cost, which includes the cost of academic and clinical training, is 160,000 over the five-year course, or 32,000 per year.

Dentistry

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS dentists per head of the population were practising in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		General dental services and personal dental services Dentists per 10,000 population in Cumbria and Lancashire strategic health authority as at 30 September each year
		
			  Dentists per 10,000 population 
		
		
			 1997 3.43 
			 1998 3.53 
			 1999 3.59 
			 2000 3.52 
			 2001 3.64 
			 2002 3.58 
			 2003 3.60 
			 2004 3.76 
			 2005 4.10 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.2005 data calculated using Office for National Statistics 2004 mid-year population estimates based on the 2001 census.
	2.Figures have been rounded to two decimal places.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Departmental Data

Gavin Strang: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methods her Department employs to ensure that its data are up-to-date, with particular reference to information on people who have (a) moved house and (b) died.

Jane Kennedy: The Department employs a variety of methods to ensure that it keeps its personal data up-to-date. These include:
	checking the same items of information held in different sources and following up discrepancies;
	issuing occasional reminders to staff to check that specific information is correct;
	putting in place business processes that encourage or force necessary changes to data where circumstances change;
	communicating to staff on why accurate information is important for them as well as for the Department;
	developing technology that allows staff and line managers to make changes to data directly themselves, rather than relying on Human Resource staff or others to do so on their behalf. This is the case in the specific circumstance of moving house; and
	increasingly moving towards having a single source of personal data that is transferred automatically between information systems, rather than collecting the same data in more than one system.

Departmental Expenditure

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on advertising by (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) each independent statutory body, organisation and body financially sponsored by her Department in each year since May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: The table shows the expenditure on major information campaigns and advertising commissioned by the Department's Communications Directorate in each year since 1997.
	
		 million
		
			 Financial year Advertising expenditure 
		
		
			 199798 2.04 
			 199899 8.53 
			 19992000 15.17 
			 200001 20.80 
			 200102 20.40 
			 200203 23.13 
			 200304 38.98 
			 200405 32.7 
			 200506(55) 23 
		
	
	(55)Estimate.
	We have no central record of advertising spend by non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies or independent statutory bodies or organisations financially sponsored by the Department and could not obtain these without incurring disproportionate costs.

Doctors (EU Working Time Directive)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the effect of the European working time directive on doctors working in the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The working time directive (WTD) was implemented for the vast majority of national health service staff groups in 1998 in accordance with regulations. The Government negotiated an extension to the WTD for doctors in training to enable phased implementation from August 2004.
	Implementation of the WTD is the responsibility of local NHS trusts, and all employees are entitled to appropriate working hours and rest breaks.
	The Department in England has worked with the health professions and NHS employers to provide joint guidance and invested an extra 46 million to support WTD implementation, including 20 national pilots and the hospital at night project. We are also funding independent research on the impact of WTD on medical training.

General Practitioners

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners were paid (a) 130,000 to 150,000, (b) 110,000 to 129,999, (c) 90,000 to 109,999, (d) 70,000 to 89,999 and (e) 50,000 to 69,999 in 200405; and how many in each category worked (i) full-time and (ii) part-time.

Liam Byrne: Data on general practitioners paid between 150,000 and 50,000 in 200405 and split between full-time and part-time are not available centrally.

Health Expenditure

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent by the NHS on treatment by (a) psychiatrists, (b) clinical psychologists, (c) psychotherapists, (d) cognitive and behavioural therapists and (e) other therapists in each of the last five years, broken down to the most local level for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not available.

Hospital Treatment (Lincolnshire)

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from (a) North Lincolnshire and (b) North East Lincolnshire received hospital treatment in Hull in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The table shows the counts of finished consultant episodes and patients at the Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals National Health Service Trust where the patients are resident within the North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) and the North East Lincolnshire PCT.
	
		Counts of finished consultant episodes and patients provider of treatment: Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust NHS Hospitals, England 200203 to 200405
		
			 PCT of residence Finished consultant episodes Patient counts 
		
		
			 (a) North Lincolnshire PCT   
			 200203 3,127 2,031 
			 200304 3,288 2,074 
			 200405 3,550 2,112 
			
			 (b) North East Lincolnshire PCT   
			 200203 1,559 1,088 
			 200304 1,762 1,170 
			 200405 2,085 1,308 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Finished consultant episode (FCE)
	A FCE is defined as a period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Please note that the figures do not represent the number of patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the year.
	2.Patient counts
	Patient counts are based on the unique hospital episode statistics (HES) patient identifier (HESID). This identifier is derived based on patient's date of birth, postcode, sex, local patient identifier and NHS number, using an agreed algorithm. Where data are incomplete, HESID might erroneously link episodes or fail to recognise episodes for the same patient. Care is therefore needed, especially where duplicate records persist in the data. The patient count cannot be summed across a table where patients may have episodes in more than one cell.
	3.Primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) data quality
	PCT and SHA data were added to historic data-years in the HES database using 200203 boundaries, as a one-off exercise in 2004. The quality of the data on PCT of treatment and SHA of treatment are poor in 199697, 199798 and 199899, with over a third of all finished episodes having missing values in these years. Data quality of PCT of general practitioner (GP) practice and SHA of GP practice in 199798 and 199899 are also poor, with a high proportion missing values where practices changed or ceased to exist. There is less change in completeness of the residence-based fields over time, where the majority of unknown values are due to missing postcodes on birth episodes. Users of time series analysis including these years need to be aware of these issues in their interpretation of the data.
	4.Ungrossed data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (ie the data are ungrossed).
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Influenza

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the likelihood of a pandemic strain of influenza developing resistance to oseltamivir; and whether she intends to stockpile (a) M2 inhibitors and (b) other antivirals as an alternative strategy.

Rosie Winterton: Antiviral resistance is a general concern and we are supporting and monitoring research on levels of viral resistance to antiviralsincluding oseltamivir. Recent anecdotal reports suggest a few patients treated for avian influenza have developed resistance to oseltamivir. These particular cases are specific to avian, not pandemic virus, and the data, for now, do not affect our current strategy. At present the experience is that these drugs do work and that they should work against a pandemic strain. They need to be used carefully and appropriately to minimise the risk of resistance.
	The World Health Organization (WHO) has completed tests of viruses recovered from the first two fatal cases in Turkey. These analyses indicate that the Turkish viruses are sensitive to both classes of antiviral drugs including oseltamivir. Oseltamivir remains the drug of first choice recommended by the WHO.
	Our scientific advisory group reviews our antiviral strategy at their regular meetings and will keep under review the option of stockpiling alternative antivirals.

Influenza

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of eligible people received free influenza vaccinations in Cleethorpes constituency in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: Information is available only at primary care trust level. The percentage of people aged 65 and over receiving free influenza vaccinations from 2002 to 2005, in North East Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) is shown in the table.
	
		Flu vaccine uptake by North East Lincolnshire PCT, 200205
		
			  Total percentage uptake 
		
		
			 200203 71 
			 200304 72 
			 200405 72

Learning Disabilities Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of (a) the recent report by the Association of Directors of Social Services on learning disabilities services and (b) the likely impact of its recommendations on social care in Staffordshire.

Liam Byrne: The Department welcomes this report as a useful piece of work, particularly in its emphasis on the importance of maintaining support for people with learning disabilities to lead their lives as independently as possible.
	It is for Staffordshire council to consider the contents of the report in relation to its local service provision.

Little Haven Children's Hospice

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will visit Little Haven Children's Hospice in Castle Point to review the work of the hospice and its funding levels.

Liam Byrne: We greatly value the work undertaken by children's hospices, such as Little Haven, in providing hospice care as part of the mix of palliative care services needed by families with a child who has a life-threatening condition. I am pleased to have already been able to visit a number of palliative care settings, including children's hospices.
	Our guide Commissioning Children's and Young People's Palliative Care Services, launched on 29 November, has given commissioners important advice about the key aspects of children's palliative care which will improve the quality of commissioning and provision of services. This practical guide will stimulate improvements in commissioning and promote quality care for children, young people and their families in a range of settings, for example, palliative care at home, in hospital or in a hospice.
	The funding Little Haven may receive from the national health service is a matter for negotiation between the hospice and the local primary care trusts who contract for their services. I understand an agreement is in place.

Maternity Services

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking to ensure that ambulance services are able to transport mothers further whilst in labour as a result of the closure of local maternity services.

Liam Byrne: The Department sets national response time requirements for ambulance trusts. It is for ambulance trusts, together with primary care trusts as commissioners of ambulance services, to ensure that these requirements are met. This includes ensuring that sufficient numbers of vehicles and staff are available to respond to 999 calls.
	It is for national health service maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that women have easy access to supportive, high quality maternity services, designed around their individual needs and those of their babies, and that care is provided within a framework that enables easy and early transfer of women and babies who unexpectedly require specialist care.
	The maternity standard of the national service framework for children, young people and maternity services, which was published in September 2004, asks all NHS maternity care providers and primary care trusts to ensure that:
	formal local multi-disciplinary arrangements are in place for emergency situations, including transfer-in labour for all out of hospital or intra-hospital settings;
	in all out-of-hospital labours/births, the midwife is responsible for transfer and continues to care for the woman on transfer where possible; and
	for all transfers to hospital, midwives refer directly to the most senior obstetrician on call.

Maternity Services

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many maternity units there are in each primary care trust in England.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department. However, a recent analysis, using data (covering the period April 2003 to March 2004) collected by Dr. Foster in their role as an independent health care information provider, shows the number of maternity units, both shared and midwife-led, by primary care trust. This has been placed in the Library.

Maternity Services

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many obstetrician-led maternity units there have been in England in each year since 1997; and how many maternity units delivered (a) fewer than 2,000 births, (b) between 2,001 and 4,000 births annually and (c) over 4,001 births in the last five years for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: This information is not collected centrally.
	The maternity records collected through the Hospital Episodes Statistics system are usually identified only to trust level, rather than to any specific unit within the trust. Some trusts provide information regarding the staff group with lead responsibility for care for example, midwife-led or consultant-led, but this does not allow the identification of consultant-led units.

Mental Health Treatment

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of referrals to therapists have been for (a) individual treatment and (b) group therapy in each of the last five years, broken down to the most local level for which figures are available.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally by the Department.

Mental Health Treatment

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the number of full-time equivalent (a) psychotherapists, (b) cognitive and behavioural therapists and (c) other therapists working in the NHS, broken down to the most local level for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of consultants and registrar group doctors within psychotherapy and the number of qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff within each specified area of therapy work including psychotherapy at strategic health authority and trust level in England, as at September 2004 has been placed in the Library.
	Information on the number of cognitive and behavioural therapists is not collected centrally.

Midwifery-led Birthing Centres

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwife-led birthing centres there are in Coventry South.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The information requested is not collected centrally.

Midwives

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent midwives there are in each maternity unit; and how many vacancies there are in each unit.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not collect information at maternity unit level. Information is collected at trust level, which has been placed in the Library. At September 2005, the rate of vacancies lasting three months or more for midwives has fallen to 1.8 per cent, compared to 3.3 per cent, year earlier and the number of vacancies at 348 was the lowest since before 1999.

Ministerial Visits

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many times she has visited (a) Dacorum and (b) Hertfordshire in her official capacity in the last 12 months; and what the purpose was of each visit.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State for Health has not visited Dacorum or Hertfordshire in an official capacity in the last 12 months.

New Drugs

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make additional funding available to primary care trusts to pay for newly licensed drugs; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 19 January 2006
	No additional funding will be made available to primary care trusts (PCTs) in relation to newly licensed drugs.
	PCTs have been informed of their revenue allocations up to the end of 200708. The 200608 allocations represented 135 billion investment in the national health service. Over the two years covered by this allocation, PCTs will receive an average increase of 19.5 per cent.
	It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to meet the health care needs of their local populations, including providing for innovations in treatment and health care.

NHS Air Ambulance Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the funding arrangements for NHS air ambulance services in (a) the East Midlands and (b) England.

Liam Byrne: Air ambulances are funded by charities. Since 1 April 2002, the cost of clinical staff on air ambulances has been met by the national health service on a continuing basis. It is for NHS trusts to decide whether they provide any additional funding to air ambulance charities.

NHS Consultants

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sabbaticals for NHS consultants were arranged during 2005.

Liam Byrne: There is no national sabbatical scheme for consultants. Consultants may apply for sabbatical leave in accordance with the employing organisation's arrangements. Information on numbers would be held locally by individual employers.

NHS Direct

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of callers to NHS Direct have been advised to go to their GP.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not centrally held. It may be available from NHS Direct special health authority.

NHS Private Finance Initiative Schemes

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the total expenditure on NHS private finance initiative schemes in each year until 201314.

Liam Byrne: I refer the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire to the answer I gave on 12 July 2005, Official Report, columns 988989W, which stated that detailed unitary payment for schemes which have reached financial close had been placed in the Library. This list has now been updated to reflect the four private finance initiative hospital schemes which have reached financial close since then and which are over 20 million in capital value. The updated list has also been placed in the Library.

NHS Trusts (Finance)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cumulative deficit is of each NHS trust in England which has a deficit that it is required to clear to reach a break even financial position.

Liam Byrne: National health service trusts are expected to plan for and achieve financial balance each and every year.
	All NHS trusts with a cumulative deficit have a statutory duty to breakeven over a three, or exceptionally up to a five-year period.
	The latest year for which audited financial data is available is 200405, which has been placed in the Library.

NHS Trusts (Finance)

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health over what time period an NHS trust which runs up a deficit during the 200506 financial year is required to repay the amount overspent; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: National health service trusts are expected to plan for and achieve break even every year. NHS trusts have a statutory financial duty to achieve a break even position on income and expenditure taking one year with another. This is interpreted as needing to break even over a period of three, and in exceptional cases, up to five years. Where NHS trusts overspend, this would require other NHS organisations, within the health economy, to under spend over the same period.

NHS Walk-in Centres

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much NHS walk-in centres have cost in each year since their establishment;
	(2)  how many attendances there have been at walk-in centres in each quarter since 1 January 2003.

Liam Byrne: National health service walk-in centres are managed locally by their host primary care trust or NHS trust. They are not separate accounting entities and theirrunning costs are not routinely collected or held centrally by the Department.
	Data on the number of visits to NHS walk-in centres in each quarter from January 2003 to September 2005, the latest full quarter for which data are available, are shown in the table.
	
		Visits to NHS walk-in centres
		
			 Period Number 
		
		
			 January to March 2003 335,358 
			 April to June 2003 391,940 
			 July to September 2003 412,829 
			 October to December 2003 387,570 
			 January to March 2004 389,784 
			 April to June 2004 477,667 
			 July to September 2004 503,144 
			 October to December 2004 516,406 
			 January to March 2005 571,305 
			 April to June 2005 652,367 
			 July to September 2005 667,045 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health

Nurses

Howard Stoate: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many whole-time equivalent nurses are employed by (a) general practitioners, (b) other primary care NHS organisations and (c) acute sector NHS organisations in (i) England and (ii) each primary care trust area in Kent, broken down by nursing specialty.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of full-time equivalent nurses by primary care trust (PCT) and national health service trust in Kent and England broken down by specified specialty is shown in the table.
	It is not possible to provide NHS trust (acute sector) staff by PCT area.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in England and the Kent and Medway strategic health authority area by organisation and by area of work as at 30 September 2004 full-time equivalent
		
			   Total qualified nursing staff Acute, Elderly and General Paediatric Nursing Maternity Services Community Psychiatry Other Psychiatry 
		
		
			 England  315,440 166,098 15,258 24,463 13,627 27,959 
			 of which:
			 Kent and Medway SHA total  7,617 3,970 292 726 338 538 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT 5CM 275 39 4 0 0 1 
			 South West Kent PCT 5FF 228 54 0 0 1 0 
			 Maidstone Weald PCT 5L2 225 11 3 0 0 0 
			 Medway PCT 5L3 349 74 1 0 2 13 
			 Swale PCT 5L4 161 63 0 0 0 12 
			 Ashford PCT 5LL 137 11 0 0 1 0 
			 Canterbury and Coastal PCT 5LM 224 53 0 0 0 0 
			 East Kent Coastal PCT 5LN 228 21 39 0 0 0 
			 Shepway PCT 5LP 117 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust RN7 611 485 31 93 0 0 
			 Medway NHS Trust RPA 884 605 62 177 0 0 
			 East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust RTM 348 0 1 0 147 196 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust RW 2,041 1,627 92 277 3 0 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust RWF 1,156 910 58 179 0 0 
			 West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust RXJ 634 13 0 0 184 317 
		
	
	
		
			   Community Learning Disabilities Other Learning Disabilities Community Services Education staff School nursing GP practice nurses Unspecified 
		
		
			 England  3,325 4,201 43,369 1,140 1,619 13,563 820 
			 of which: 
			 Kent and Medway SHA total  79 103 1,174 29 35 334 0 
			 Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley PCT 5CM 0 0 176 1 4 49 0 
			 South West Kent PCT 5FF 0 0 120 0 8 45 0 
			 Maidstone Weald PCT 5L2 0 0 148 3 6 53 0 
			 Medway PCT 5L3 0 0 210 0 0 50 0 
			 Swale PCT 5L4 0 0 66 0 0 20 0 
			 Ashford PCT 5LL 42 2 57 0 0 23 0 
			 Canterbury and Coastal PCT 5LM 0 0 137 0 0 34 0 
			 East Kent Coastal PCT 5LN 0 0 128 0 4 35 0 
			 Shepway PCT 5LP 0 0 88 0 0 25 0 
			 Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust RN7 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 
			 Medway NHS Trust RPA 0 14 7 6 13 0 0 
			 East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust RTM 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 
			 East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust RW 7 0 28 7 0 0 0 
			 Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust RWF 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 
			 West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust RXJ 29 87 4 1 0 0 0 
		
	
	Note:
	Full time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Nursing and Midwifery Council

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have proceeded to hearing before the Professional Conduct Committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the last five years; and how many of such cases led to a removal from the register.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally. Data about complaints referred to the Professional Conduct Committee can be obtained directly from the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Nye Bevan Awards

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have received Nye Bevan awards in each year since they were instituted.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The Nye Bevan awards were allocated to eight national health service healthcare teams from around the country who were key pioneers of NHS modernisation. From the eight regional awards, one national award was given.
	Nye Bevan National Modernisation award winner 1999 was NHS South East Region-Trinity Project, Wellington Square Medical Centre, Hastings.
	The eight regional Nye Bevan award winners for 1999 were:
	NHS Northern and Yorkshire Region-The North Kirklees Mental Health Service
	For nationally renowned joint working, offering local people a single gateway to all local health, social care and housing, in particular helping young people and others suffering from mental health problems to find jobs, housing, care and support.
	NHS Eastern Region-The Lynda Jackson McMillan Cancer Support and Information Centre at Mount Vernon Hospital, London
	For leading the national drive to make Britain's cancer services the best in the world.
	NHS North West Region-Preston Acute Trust
	State of the art waiting list management system, covering all specialties and providing instant access to information for managers and clinicians.
	NHS South and West Region-The Beacon Project, Falmouth, Cornwall
	Out-standing community based care in Penwerris, Falmouth-an area of high deprivation-halving the number of children on the local at-risk register, cutting childhood accidents and crime and slashing by two thirds the number of women requiring treatment for post-natal depression.
	NHS London Region-The Central Middlesex Hospital, London
	Britain's first combined day case and outpatient treatment centre, incorporating new airline style booking systems for patient appointments, enabling the hospital to slash in-patient and out-patient waiting lists and times through improved access and convenience for patients.
	NHS Trent Region-The Nottingham City NHS Hospital Trust
	Leading the national drive for health workplaces and staff involvement in the NHS, with superb staff involvement in work force planning, training, design and consultation.
	NHS West Midlands Region-The Small Heath Locality Mental Health Service, Birmingham
	For unique success in delivering local mental health services, within a multi-faceted NHS high street walk-in centre, working alongside district nurses, health visitors, chiropodists and other voluntary organisations.
	NHS South East Region-Trinity Project, Wellington Square Medical Centre, Hastings
	Leading joint work between the NHS, police, probation and social services and local volunteers and charities, tackling drug misuse and dependency, helping local drug users overcome their addiction.
	Nye Bevan National Modernisation award winner 2000 was The National Refractory Angina Centre, Cardiothoracic Centre Royal Liverpool NHS Trust.
	The eight regional Nye Bevan award winners for 2000 were:
	NHS Eastern Region-nurse led out-patient management of veno thromboembolism, Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust
	A pioneering system of treating deep vein thrombosis patients at home, rather than in a hospital setting.
	NHS London Region-Soho Centre for Health and Care, Parkside Health Trust
	A one stop centre that has brought together local authority, NHS and voluntary sector services under one roof.
	NHS Northern and Yorkshire Region-OPUS employment project for people with mental health problems, Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust
	Created in 1994, this innovative service has the very clear aim of 'assisting people with a mental health problem to achieve their maximum potential in worthwhile work'.
	NHS North West Region-The National Refractory Angina Centre, Cardiothoracic Centre Royal Liverpool NHS Trust
	State of the art multi-disciplinary patient centred management model, with the primary objective of improving and harmonising the standard of care to patients and their carers.
	NHS South Eastern Region-Working Out-Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust
	The Working Out programme bridges the gap between rehabilitation and employment through a graded preparation for (and a supported return to) work or alternative occupation.
	NHS South West Region-Action on Cataract Together, East Gloucestershire NHS Trust
	The action on cataracts programme is spearheading the development of a high quality, patient focused service.
	NHS Trent Region-Respiratory Home Care Service University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
	Current trend in respiratory care is towards supporting the patient in the community and preventing hospital admission. The role of the respiratory nurse practitioner has evolved to incorporate the acute assessment unit, the home intravenous antibiotic programme, the support of patients on long term oxygen therapy at home and the provision of an early discharge scheme.
	NHS West Midlands Region-Interpreting Service Sandwell Healthcare NHS Trust
	This service enables patients or users accessing the services of the trust to communicate with staff in a language they choose.
	In 2000, the following Nye Bevan Awards were also given:
	The lifetime achievement award joint winners:
	Jenni Thomas, maternity and neonatal bereavement facilitator, South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust.
	Developed bereavement counselling services for parents and has set up national charity, The Child Bereavement Trust.
	Professor Jillian Mann, Birmingham Children's Hospital (BCH) NHS Trust, leading childhood cancer expert.
	Established Regional Paediatric Oncology Services and Research at BCH.
	David James Kerr, Professor of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust Gene and Immunotherapy for Cancer
	Professor Kerr leads a team of laboratory and clinical scientists who have developed a number of highly innovative new treatments for cancer patients, which have just entered clinical trials in the trust.

Parliamentary Questions

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will answer the questions from the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South tabled on (a) 11 November 2005 reference 28284 and (b) 17 November 2005 reference 29840.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the replies sent on 16 and 17 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1063W and 1302W.

Patient and Public Involvement Resource Centre

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which organisations have responsibility for (a) setting up and (b) running the patient and public involvement resource centre; and on what date she expects the resource centre to begin its work.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 16 January 2006
	The Department is responsible for the setting up of the patient and public involvement resource centre. We are currently finalising the contract details but until the procurement process is complete, we are unable to provide further details as they are commercially sensitive.
	We expect the successful provider to commence work in early February.

Primary Care Trusts

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the allocations to each primary care trust within the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority were in each of the last three years; and what the capital allocations to each primary care trust were in each year.

Rosie Winterton: The 200304 to 200506 revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) were announced in December 2002. The table shows the revenue allocations made to PCTs within the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) for this period.
	
		
			  Allocation Three year total increase 
			 PCT 200304 (000) 200405 (000) 200506 (000) 000 Percentage 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset 140,354 153,237 167,238 38,915 30.33 
			 Bristol North 204,387 223,245 243,728 56,928 30.48 
			 Bristol South and West 171,215 186,424 202,688 45,779 29.18 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 124,221 136,208 148,726 35,685 31.57 
			 Cotswold and Vale 159,474 173,643 188,390 42,208 28.87 
			 Kennet and North Wilts 150,973 164,383 178,727 40,380 29.19 
			 North Somerset 151,428 166,342 182,185 44,653 32.47 
			 South Gloucestershire 172,121 188,320 205,893 48,895 31.14 
			 South Wiltshire 99,642 108,493 117,958 26,642 29.18 
			 Swindon 152,323 166,721 182,319 43,428 31.27 
			 West Gloucestershire 188,232 206,016 224,782 53,137 30.96 
			 West Wiltshire 90,474 99,238 108,621 26,316 31.97 
		
	
	In addition, revenue allocations, covering 200607 and 200708 were announced in February 2005. The revenue allocations made to PCTs in the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA for 200607 and 200708 are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Allocation Two year total increase 
			 PCT 200607 (000) 200708 (000) 000 Percentage 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset 206,371 224,569 34,023 17.9 
			 Bristol North 287,627 312,296 46,649 17.6 
			 Bristol South and West 239,350 258,885 37,583 17.0 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 181,446 198,605 32,341 19.5 
			 Cotswold and Vale 222,132 240,253 34,858 17.0 
			 Kennet and North Wiltshire 211,111 231,784 38,344 19.8 
			 North Somerset 225,201 251,427 45,126 21.9 
			 South Gloucestershire 250,189 275,190 45,949 20.0 
			 South Wiltshire 145,066 156,897 22,757 17.0 
			 Swindon 223,813 243,943 37,330 18.1 
			 West Gloucestershire 266,091 292,350 48,551 19.9 
			 West Wiltshire 134,671 150,935 31,015 25.9 
		
	
	Comparisons between allocations rounds cannot be made, for the following reasons:
	revenue allocations were made to health authorities for the period 200001 to 200203;
	changes are made to the weighted capitation formula for each allocations round, therefore, comparisons would not be on a like with like basis;
	200306 revenue allocations were made direct to PCTs, for the first time, and were on a three yearly basis; and
	200608 is the first year that primary medical services were incorporated onto revenue allocations.
	Capital allocations to PCTs in Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire SHA are shown in the table. Capital allocations for 200607 have not yet been announced.
	
		000
		
			  Operational capital allocation 
			 PCT 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,164 1,245 1,333 
			 Bristol North 153 174 197 
			 Bristol South and West 180 205 232 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 177 189 202 
			 Cotswold and Vale 692 741 800 
			 Kennet and North Wilts 1,124 1,202 1,286 
			 North Somerset 102 109 116 
			 South Gloucestershire 122 131 140 
			 South Wiltshire 33 35 38 
			 Swindon 224 239 256 
			 West Gloucestershire 255 272 292 
			 West Wiltshire 488 522 559

Podiatrists

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many vacancies there were within the NHS for podiatrists on average in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005;
	(2)  how many NHS podiatrists successfully completed their training in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005;
	(3)  how many people began training in podiatry in (a) 2003, (b) 2004 and (c) 2005.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of people beginning or completing training in podiatry is not available centrally.
	Information on the number of training places commissioned in chiropody and podiatry from 200203 to 200405 is shown in the table.
	
		Commissioned training places in chiropody and podiatry
		
			  Number of training places 
		
		
			 200203 427 
			 200304 451 
			 200405 559 
		
	
	Notes:
	QMR=NMET quarterly monitoring reports
	Source:
	QMR Q4, Department of Health
	Information on the number and rate of vacancies for chiropodists/podiatrists lasting three months or more in each of the last three years is shown in the table.
	
		Three-month vacancy rate and number for all chiropodists/podiatrists in England as at 31 March 200305
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 2005 97 3.0 
			 2004 60 1.9 
			 2003 37 1.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1.Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	2.Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	Source:
	NHS Vacancy Survey
	There has been considerable growth in the national health service chiropody/podiatry workforce. In September 2004, there were 3,941 qualified NHS chiropodists/podiatrists; this represents an increase of 655 or 20 per cent. since 1997.

PR Companies

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the public relations companies that have had contracts with (a) her Department, (b) each (i) non-departmental public body and (ii) executive agency for which her Department is responsible and (c) independent statutory bodies, organisations and bodies financially sponsored by her Department and other such organisations since May 1997.

Jane Kennedy: It is not possible to list the public relations companies that have had contracts with the Department, each non-departmental public bodies, or executive agencies for which the Department is responsible or independent statutory bodies, organisation and bodies financially sponsored by the Department since May 1997. This information can be supplied only at disproportionate costs.

Publications (Languages)

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make all published departmental materials intended for families available in languages other than English; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not publish material specifically for families though it does produce a small selection of public health literature aimed at audiences within family groups. Of these, 35 titles are published across a range of 27 languages with many more available on the Department's internet sites.
	The Department's Communications Directorate is reviewing how to better meet the needs of Black and Minority Ethnic groups (BME) in departmental publications.

Respiratory Diseases

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people suffered from (a) asthma and (b) other respiratory illnesses in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of people living with asthma and other respiratory illnesses is not collected.

Sex Offenders

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many individuals whose names appear on the (a) Protection of Children Act list and (b) Protection of Vulnerable Adults list are employed by (i) NHS organisations and (ii) social services departments; and how many individuals employed by (A) NHS organisations and (B) social services departments have committed an offence listed under Schedule 1 to the Sex Offenders Act 1997.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The responsibility for carrying out pre-employment checks, including Criminal Records Bureau, Protection of Children Act and Protection of Vulnerable Adults checks where applicable, rests with the relevant employer, whether a national health service organisation or social services department or other regulated provider of health or social care. The NHS is required to follow the guidance, Safer Recruitment issued in May 2005 which covers all the pre and post-appointment checks that NHS employers are required to make before appointing anyoneincluding employees, volunteers, students and traineesto a position in the NHS. In regulated social care, providers must comply with regulations on pre-employment checks made under the Care Standards Act 2000 which came into force in April 2002.
	Part two of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 replaced part one of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 and schedule three to the 2003 Act came into force on 1 May 2004. The Act requires convicted sex offenders to report each year to their local police and inform the police if they change their name and address within three days instead of the previous 14 days.
	The Department does not hold information about NHS and social care employees of the kind requested.

Shipman Inquiry

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether she has accepted the recommendations in the Report of the Shipman Inquiry on amending the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, with particular reference to the recommendations that the Government should (a) promote awareness of the role of whistleblowing and (b) ensure that people in whistleblowing dilemmas have access to confidential advice;
	(2)  when she will give a full answer to the question on the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 tabled by the hon. Member for Orpington to which she gave a holding answer on 21 November 2005.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 21 November 2005
	The Department has been discussing the Shipman Inquiry's recommendations with the Department for Trade and Industry, which is the lead Department for the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA), and with relevant stakeholders, and we will continue to do so.
	We agree that it is important that national health service staff who have genuine concerns are able to get informed advice on their options and next steps and, where appropriate, support when raising those concerns. However, we are not yet persuaded that amendment to PIDA is necessary to achieve this.
	There are many related issues contained within the Shipman Report, and we will respond in full to this point as part of the Government's formal response to the Shipman Inquiry.

Specialist Gastric Care

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to ensure that patients with (a) colitis and (b) Crohn's disease receive adequate healthcare.

Liam Byrne: It is for primary care trusts to commission appropriate local services, according to local need, in order to provide adequate health and social care for people with long-term conditions, as set out in the NHS Improvement Plan.

Standing Frames

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts do not provide a grandstand standing frame to patients who require one on discharge.

Liam Byrne: This information is not held centrally.
	The provision of support and services for people with an assessed need is the responsibility of the local national health service and social care services. It is for those services to determine what to provide to meet the needs of individuals.

Student Grants Unit

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether automated responses are recorded by her Department as replies to questions put to the Student Grant Unit by email.

Liam Byrne: The Department does not record information about email responses from the NHS Student Grants Unit. The NHS Pensions Agency, who are responsible for the NHS Student Grants Unit, does record automated responses as replies to questions put to them by email.

Treatment Costs

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost was per patient per bed of treatment in (a) the Royal Shrewsbury hospital, (b) the Princess Royal hospital in Telford and (c) the community hospital in (i) Bridgnorth, (ii) Ludlow and (iii) Bishop's Castle in (A) 2003, (B) 2004 and (C)2005.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 20 December 2005
	There are no data collected centrally at individual patient per bed level. Data are collected on a finished consultant episode basis and at national health service trust level, within which one or more hospitals will operate.

Urosotomy Prescriptions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the number of suppliers of urosotomy prescriptions is due to be reviewed under the current consultation; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 January 2006
	The Department is currently seeking views on the arrangements for the provision of dressings, incontinence appliances, stoma appliances, chemical reagents and other appliances to primary and secondary care.
	These views are being sought through a formal consultation that closes on 23 January 2006. We anticipate that suppliers of urosotomy prescriptions will respond to this consultation.
	Once the consultation closes, on 23 January 2006, we will review all the responses andwhere necessaryseek clarification from responders. Only then will the Department be in a position to make any decisions about the way forward.

Waiting Times

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long a patient had to wait on average for a (a) heart bypass, (b) breast cancer, (c) hip replacement, (d) cataract and (e) kidney transplant operation in each year since 1997 in Sunderland Royal hospital.

Liam Byrne: There were no kidney transplant operations undertaken at the Sunderland Royal hospital during this period. The remaining information requested is shown in the table. Latest figures show that all breast cancer patients at the trust meet the national target of receiving treatment within one month of diagnosis.
	
		Media time waited by selected procedures: City Hospital Sunderland National Health Service Foundation Trust,199798 to 200304
		
			  Breast cancer Cataract Heart bypass Hip replacement 
		
		
			 199798 7 276  307 
			 199899 5 278  242 
			 19992000 7 170 133 294 
			 200001 9 146  341 
			 200102 9 118  330 
			 200203 10 126  297 
			 200304 10 143  223 
		
	
	Notes:
	Ungrossed data
	Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls In data, that is, the data is ungrossed.
	Main operation
	The main operation is the first recorded operation in the Hospital Episodes Statistics (HES) data set and is usually the most resource intensive procedure performed during the episode. It is appropriate to use main operation when looking at admission details, for example, time waited, but the figures for all operations count of episodes give a more complete count of episodes with an operation.
	Time waited (days)
	Time waited statistics from HES are not the same as the published waiting list statistics. HES provides counts and time waited for all patients admitted to hospital within a given period whereas the published waiting list statistics count those waiting for treatment on a specific date and how long they have been on the waiting list. Also, HES calculates the time as the difference between the admission and decision to admit dates. Unlike published waiting list statistics, this is not adjusted for self-deferrals or periods of medical or social suspension.
	Source:
	Hospital Episodes Statistics, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Waiting Times

Greg Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards ensuring a maximum wait of three months for an out-patient appointment; and what assessment she has made of the impact on other NHS patients as a result.

Liam Byrne: Latest data shows that the number of patients waiting over 13 weeks for a first out-patient appointment has fallen from around 340,000 in June 1997 to under 40,000 at the end of September 2005. We remain confident that out year-end targets for national health service waiting for admission times will have been met.
	The Department has issued very clear guidance that clinical priority must be the main determinant of when patients should be seen and we are not aware of any evidence to suggest that delivering shorter out-patient waits has had any adverse impact on other NHS patients.

Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients had been waiting for hospital operations for more than six months on 1 December 2005 (a) in total and (b) in each NHS hospital trust.

Liam Byrne: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Waiting Times

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients will have to wait more than six months for their NHS operation as of 1 January 2006 (a) broken down by NHS hospital trust and (b) in total.

Liam Byrne: The national health service now operates a maximum waiting for admission time of six months for an inpatient operation. The NHS has rigorous monitoring and performance management systems in place to enable it to deliver this. We remain confident that our year-end target of a maximum NHS waiting for admission time of six months will have been met.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Chewing Gum

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance has been provided by his Department to each district and borough council in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years to fund the removal of chewing gum from public areas.

Angela Smith: The removal of chewing gum from public areas is a matter for district and borough councils themselves and the Department of the Environment does not provide funding for this service. From 1 November 2005 councils are permitted to retain receipts from fixed penalty notices issued for littering and dog fouling and may use the sums received for the purposes of its functions under Articles 5 and 6 of the Litter (NI) Order 1994.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Department of Agriculture and Rural Development staff are engaged in a monitoring role for each leader company in Northern Ireland; and at what cost in the last period for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's Rural Development Division (RDD) has 2 Monitoring Officers, which equates to 1.8full time equivalent posts. In 2005 the 12 Local Action Groups (LAGs), which deliver LEADER+ funding, received one monitoring visit each. This visit was comprised of the following:
	two days preparation
	one day visit to the LAG
	four days resolving outstanding issues and preparing a report.
	This is a cost per LAG of 792.51.

Dog-fighting

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to prevent organised dog-fighting in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: Under the Welfare of Animals (Northern Ireland) Act 1972, it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to an animal by causing, procuring or assisting at the fighting or baiting of an animal or to take part in such an episode. It is also an offence to keep, use, manage, permit or assist in the keeping use or management of any premises for the purpose of fighting or baiting any animal contrary to the above.
	The PSNI enforce the Welfare of Animal Act (NI) 1972, where breaches are reported or detected. The PSNI will deal with any report of such activity and act accordingly. Recent media reports have highlighted the problem, but the level of such activity remains relatively low. This does not excuse or condone such cruel behaviour, and the service treats all such reports with the utmost seriousness.
	Other agencies such as local councils and the USPCA also play a role in dog welfare issues. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development for Northern Ireland in recent weeks has assisted these agencies in raids on premises where it is suspected that dogs were being trained for fighting and baiting. On the basis of evidence gathered consideration is being given to prosecutions for breaches of the legislation.
	As part of the current review of Northern Ireland Welfare of Animals legislation the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is considering what measures may be necessary to strengthen powers to deal with abuses of animal welfare, including, in respect of organised dog-fighting.

Drug-related Offences

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been prosecuted for drug-related offences in Northern Ireland in each of the last seven years.

David Hanson: The following table provides prosecutions for drug-related offences, broken down by category, in Northern Ireland for the calendar years 1997 to 2003. Figures for 2004 are not yet available.
	
		Prosecutions for drug-related offences in Northern Ireland 19972003
		
			 Offence 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Unlawful possession 353 460 493 495 346 327 417 
			 Possession with intent to supply unlawfully 216 183 156 181 153 110 113 
			 Unlawful supply 75 32 31 38 27 9 21 
			 Unlawful production 7 17 14 5 3 1 6 
			 Permitting premises to be used for unlawful purposes 14 6 2 1 1 4 0 
			 Unlawful import or export 8 5 3 3 0 0 0 
			 Other misuse of Drugs Act offences 1 4 13 9 9 4 11 
			 Total 674 707 712 732 539 455 568

Education

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of 16 to 25-year-olds in each ward in Northern Ireland are in further education, listed in descending order and indicating in which constituency each ward lies;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of 18 to 25-year-olds are in higher education in each ward in Northern Ireland, broken down by constituency.

Angela Smith: The information has been placed in the Library.

Education

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of pupils in Northern Ireland's schools in receipt of free school meals achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-C in (a) 2004 and (b) 2005.

Angela Smith: Information is not available in the format requested. However, of pupils leaving school in 200304, 33 per cent. of those entitled to free school meals achieved five or more GCSE grades A*-C. Figures for 200405 will be available by July 2006.

Employment (Republic of Ireland)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adult workers in each constituency in Northern Ireland are employed in the Republic of Ireland, listed in descending order.

Angela Smith: Estimates of the number of Northern Ireland residents working in the Republic of Ireland are not available. However for information, the Autumn (September-November) 2005 Labour Force Survey estimated that 11,000 Northern Ireland residents were currently employed outside of the UK.

Giant's Causeway

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the new visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Good progress toward the provision of new visitor facilities continues to be made. The design of the new facilities has recently been selected following a successful international architectural competition; and a firm of designers have also now been appointed to design the interpretation and fit out of the new facilities. Work is currently under way to appoint the remainder of the project team to work with the winning architects to develop the detailed design and submit a planning application.

High Hedges

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many responses were received from each district council area to the consultation paper on nuisance high hedges released on 10 August 2005; and when the Environment Minister is expected to report on the result of the consultation.

Angela Smith: A report on the outcome of the Department of the Environment's recent public consultation to collect information about the number of nuisance high hedges in Northern Ireland will be published by April 2006.
	The number of responses received from each district council area to the nuisance high hedges consultation released on 10 August 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			 Council area Consultation responses 
		
		
			 Antrim 17 
			 Ards 54 
			 Armagh City 22 
			 Ballymena 30 
			 Ballymoney 11 
			 Banbridge 24 
			 Belfast City 22 
			 Carrickfergus 21 
			 Castlereagh 31 
			 Coleraine 16 
			 Cookstown 9 
			 Craigavon 18 
			 Derry City 25 
			 Down 33 
			 Dungannon and South Tyrone 12 
			 Fermanagh 26 
			 Larne 8 
			 Limavady 3 
			 Lisburn City 51 
			 Magherafelt 13 
			 Moyle 3 
			 Newry and Mourne 33 
			 Newtownabbey 32 
			 North Down 77 
			 Omagh 18 
			 Strabane 7 
			 Total responses by district council area (56)616 
		
	
	(56)The overall number of consultation responses received was 640; however 24 of these could not be associated with a specific council area.

Job Creation (East Londonderry)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much grant assistance was paid towards additional job creation in the private sector in East Londonderry constituency in 2005.

Angela Smith: During the financial year 200405 Invest NI offered 2.29 million of assistance within the East Londonderry constituency area. This contributed towards projects which have a total planned investment of over 11 million; and is comprised of over 400 offers aimed at the establishment, growth and capability development of businesses within the area, including 235 offers of support provided through the Start a Business Programme.
	In addition, during 200405 the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development awarded 1.17 million to the private sector within the East Londonderry constituency.

Lower Back Pain

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days were estimated to have been lost due to lower back pain in Northern Ireland in (a) 2000 and (b) 2005.

Angela Smith: Estimates of the number of working days lost due to lower back pain are not available. However for information, the autumn (September to November) 2005 Labour Force Survey estimated that there were 23,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland that have been suffering from back or neck pain for a period of one year or more. The comparable figure for autumn 2000 was 21,000.

Ministerial Meetings

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meetings with his officials have been requested (a) by officials in the Fisheries Division of his Department and (b) by Lord Rooker since his appointment as Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development; and how many briefings he (i) has requested from officials in the Fisheries Division and (ii)has received.

Angela Smith: Officials are always available to meet Ministers as and when necessary. Lord Rooker has met with officials at their request, on at least five occasions and once at the request of the Minister. The Minister has received briefing on more than 30 occasions. All of these have been initiated with fisheries officials in line with their duty to keep the Minister informed in issues of significance.

MOTs

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average waiting time for MOT inspections was at each vehicle testing agency site in Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Angela Smith: The following table shows the average waiting time for MOT inspections at each test centre in Northern Ireland for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005.
	
		
			 Centre Average waiting time (days) 
		
		
			 Armagh 37 
			 Ballymena 39 
			 Belfast 36 
			 Coleraine 48 
			 Cookstown 44 
			 Craigavon 35 
			 Downpatrick 32 
			 Enniskillen 51 
			 Larne 27 
			 Lisburn 39 
			 Londonderry 57 
			 Mallusk 28 
			 Newry 43 
			 Newtownards 30 
			 Omagh 57

MRSA (Hospital Deaths)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people died in Northern Ireland hospitals during 2005 where MRSA was a contributory factor.

Angela Smith: The latest year for which figures are available is 2004. There were 44 deaths registered in Northern Ireland where MRSA 1 was mentioned on the death certificate. Of these 34 deaths occurred where the place of death was in a hospital.
	1 In the United Kingdom, the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is used to classify cause of death. The current version of ICD does not have a specific code for methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However statistics on deaths where MRSA was a contributing factor can be obtained. In common with England and Wales, this is done by identifying deaths with specific conditions likely to be linked with MRSA and then manually checking the cause of death on the death certificate to identify whether MRSA was recorded.

New Deal

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many young people in each ward in Northern Ireland have been helped into work under the new deal programme (a) in total and (b) in each year since the introduction of the new deal, listed in descending order and indicating in which constituency each ward lies.

Angela Smith: This information has been placed in the Library.

New School Buildings

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which (a) primary and (b) post-primary schools in the (i) controlled and (ii) maintained sectors in East Londonderry constituency are scheduledto have new school buildings within the next 10 years.

Angela Smith: In the East Londonderry constituency, there are currently 11 schemes in planning, four of which have been approved for fundingone controlled primary school scheme (Carnalridge), one maintained primary rationalisation scheme (Dungiven, Largy and Burnfoot), one controlled post-primary scheme (Coleraine college) and one controlled special schools amalgamation scheme (Glasvey and Limegrove).
	There are seven schemes that have been identified by the relevant school authorities to the Department of Education as requiring a major capital works scheme and have been assessed by the Department as having a need for a scheme. These are currently in various stages of planning and the progressing of these schemes will be dependent on the availability of resources, and the planning, procurement and construction work required. These schemes are:
	Controlled primary
	Ballykelly
	Maintained primary
	St. Canice's, Dungiven
	Crossroads, Kilrea
	St. Patrick's, Portrush
	Integrated primary
	Millstrand, Portrush
	Controlled post-primary
	Coleraine High School
	Voluntary grammar school
	Dominican College, Portstewart
	The relevant school authorities have also identified to the Department within their five-year plans the following schools for future assessment.
	Controlled primary
	Drumachose, Limavady
	Millburn, Coleraine
	Killowen, Coleraine
	Macosquin, Coleraine
	Portstewart
	Gorran, Aghadowey
	Culcrow, Aghadowey
	Cullycapple, Aghadowey
	Maintained post-primary
	St. Patrick's High School, Dungiven
	In examining all proposals for new school buildings it will be important that in a situation of falling pupil numbers that schools are assessed as being viable in the longer term before funding approval is given.

Olympic Games

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to help Northern Irish athletes prepare for the 2012 Olympic games.

David Hanson: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is working closely with the Department of Culture Media and Sport and London Organising Committee of the Olympic games to ensure maximum benefit for Northern Ireland, from London hosting the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012. A Northern Ireland Olympic task force is also in place to develop and implement an Olympic strategy for Northern Ireland, and a principal element of this strategy will address the preparation of Northern Irish athletes for the games.

Partially Sighted People

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to assist people in Northern Ireland who are partially sighted (a) to overcome barriers to employment and (b) into work.

Angela Smith: The Department for Employment and Learning, through the Disablement Advisory Service, provides advice, guidance, training and a placement service for people with disabilities. This service is delivered by specialist Disablement Employment Advisers based in Jobs and Benefits Offices/Jobcentres across Northern Ireland. The Department's advisers have available a range of programmes to assist disabled people overcome barriers to employment and to help them advance in the workplace, all of which can provide assistance for partially sighted people. These programmes, include: the Job Introduction Scheme; Access to Work; Employment Support; and New Deal for Disabled People. Further, the Department has a contract with RNIB to provide assessment services to assist the advisers meet the needs of partially sighted clients.

Pensioners (Telephones)

Peter Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many and what percentage of pensioners in each region do not have a telephone, ranked in descending order.

Angela Smith: For the financial year 200405 the proportion of pensioners in each region who do not have a telephone is as follows.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 East of NI 3 
			 North of NI 3 
			 West and South of NI 2 
			 Outer Belfast 1 
			 Belfast 1 
		
	
	It is not possible to provide the number of pensioners in each region who do not have a telephone. The estimates are based on a sample survey.

Predictive Diallers

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many calls were made from call centres in his Department in 200405 using predictive diallers; how many such calls resulted in contact being made with the recipient without a Government agent available to talk to them; and what assessment he has made of the likely impact of Ofcom's policy on silent calls on the use of predictive diallers in departmental call centres.

David Hanson: No call centres were run by the Northern Ireland Office.

Primary Schools (Computer Adaptive Testing)

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether computer adaptive testing will form part of the proposed pupil profile for primary school children in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment is developing and testing the pupil profile, and is examining the use of computer adaptive tests as part of the portfolio of assessment tools which teachers could draw upon to inform and support their professional judgment when completing the pupil profile. The council will provide me with advice in due course.

Prostitution

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues in relation to the prostitution strategy for England and Wales; and what plans he has to introduce similar reforms in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Home Office document presents a coordinated strategy for dealing with a range of issues related to prostitution in England and Wales, where it is estimated that 80,000 people may be directly involved in selling sex. The strategy follows a review of prostitution instigated in 2004 by the Home Secretary.
	We will be looking at what needs to be done in Northern Ireland to tackle problems related to prostitution here. We will initially be liaising with the police to ensure they have the necessary powers under the criminal law to deal with problems posed by kerb crawlers. We will look at the possibility of including proposals to reform the law in a wider review of sex offences due for consultation this year.

Public Appointments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to announce further nominations to the Equality Commission in Northern Ireland.

David Hanson: The Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires that the Equality Commission shall consist of not less than 14 nor more than 20 Commissioners. There are currently 18 Commissioners, including the Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Commissioner. The Government believes that the current Commission has the right balance of skills and experience and that therefore there is no need to appoint additional Commissioners at this time.

Public Appointments

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to announce the creation of Deputy Chief Commissioner posts for the Equality and Human Rights Commissions in Northern Ireland within the next three months.

David Hanson: The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland currently has a Deputy Chief Commissioner.
	In its consultation paper on the powers of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Government discussed the possibility of creating a position of Deputy Chief Commissioner.
	Following the end of the consultation period on 9 February 2006, the Government will consider all responses from consultees on this and other issues. We will consider our proposals in the light of those responses.

Rates Revaluation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether (a) aerial and (b) satellite photography (i) being and (ii) will be used by the Valuation and Lands Agency as part of the rates revaluation in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Valuation and Lands Agency is not and will not be using aerial or satellite photography as part of the revaluation of domestic properties in Northern Ireland.

Re-offending

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland who have served a prison sentence have been convicted of a further subsequent offence and re-imprisoned in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The table shows the number of offenders who have been discharged from prison and reconvicted with a subsequent custodial sentence. A two year reconviction period is the standard adopted in reconviction studies. Thus, those offenders discharged from prison during 2001 are followed up for a two year period to determine if a valid reconviction has occurred. Data for 2002 (i.e. reconvictions to 31 December 2004) are currently being validated.
	
		Offenders discharged from prison and reconvicted within two years2001
		
			  Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Total prison discharges 703  
			 Reconvicted within two years  (any disposal, including prison) 317 45.1 
			 Reconvicted within two years  (subsequent prison sentence) 133 14.7

Road Safety

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring all road safety measures under one Government Department; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 January 2006, Official Report, column 793W.

Schools

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the use of selection based on academic ability in admissions to schools in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The Government are committed to ending academic selection in Northern Ireland, and the last transfer tests will be held in November 2008. Future transfer from primary to post-primary school will be on the basis of informed parental choice. A proposal for a draft education order which will give effect to the new arrangements and prohibit schools from using any form of academic selection to admit pupils is currently the subject of public consultation. The closing date for comments is 7 March and the draft order will be laid before Parliament by summer 2006.

Schools

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what guidance the Department for Education, issues to schools about the employment of ex-offenders.

Angela Smith: In 1999 the Department of Education issued the document Pastoral Care in Schools: Child Protection but has not issued any specific guidance to schools on the employment of ex-offenders. I have asked that this is done as a matter of urgency working with the Children's Commissioner and NSPCC. Currently employers can and do take advice from the police, social services, the Probation Service, the ELBs' Child Protection officers and the Department if they are in any doubt about how to proceed in any given case.

Schools

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to ensure safer journeys for children going to, and coming from schools where a decision has been taken during 2005 to remove the school crossing patrol.

Angela Smith: The education and library boards use guidelines, based on those produced by the Local Authorities Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA), to identify traffic hazards and provide school crossing patrols in situations where they consider there to be unacceptable risks. Boards have advised me that they only consider removing crossing patrols where a review of the location against these guidelines indicates that the hazard or level of risk has reduced or been removed.
	Boards continue to work closely with their counterparts in a range of Government Departments to identify other means of ensuring that the journey children make to school is safe. These include engineering solutions such as traffic calming measures and pelican crossings as well as education in the area of road safety.

Special Educational Needs

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children were statemented during 2005 in each of the education and library board areas in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The number of children who were statemented during 2005 in each of the education and library board areas in Northern Ireland is:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 BELB 272 
			 NEELB 370 
			 SEELB 410 
			 SELB 368 
			 WELB 307

Special Educational Needs

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps the Department of Education and South-Eastern Education and Library Board are taking to ensure that statemented and special needs children are not disadvantaged as a result of the deficit in the board's budget.

Angela Smith: In recent years, the Department of Education has made available to all education and library boards, including the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB), additional resources totalling 37.5 million over the 200506 to 200708 period for support to children with special educational needs. This has been further enhanced by the allocation of 5 million in 200607 and 15 million in 200708 in the recent Northern Ireland Budget and Priorities 200608.
	Other earmarked allocations are also being made available to address specific areas of Special Educational Need. 2.9 million has been allocated in 200506 to help address need in the largest areas of growthAutism, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, Dyslexia, as well as the increase in children identified with SEN in mainstream settings. Similar allocations will be made in 200607 and 200708.
	SEELB is fully aware of its statutory responsibility to identify and assess special educational needs, and in particular those children on whom it maintains a Statement of Special Educational Need.
	In order to meet those needs, SEELB has endeavoured to put in place adequate provision. To this end it has provided additional specialist support at Belvoir and Cumran primary schools, Ballynahinch high school and Killard and Tor Bank special schools.

Teachers Superannuation Scheme

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he plans to alter the employer's contribution to the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme following the recent Government Actuary's report.

Angela Smith: Following the publication of the Government Actuary's report on 19 December 2005, the employers' contribution rate to the Northern Ireland Teachers' Superannuation Scheme will increase from 14 per cent. to 14.15 per cent., with effect from 1 April 2006.

Tourism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps his Department is taking to encourage tourism in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: Responsibility for promoting tourism in Northern Ireland is shared between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), which provides strategic direction, and Tourism Ireland Ltd. (TIL) which markets Northern Ireland as part of the island of Ireland in key overseas markets.
	NITB's Strategic Framework for Action 20042007 provides the basis for its activities. These include the development of five Signature Projects which will provide anchor tourist attractions across Northern Ireland. In addition, NITB is developing a series of Winning Themes which include the promotion of business, activity and cultural tourism. These initiatives will be marketed aggressively by NITB within the island of Ireland and by TIL overseas.

Wind Farm Proposals (Tunes Plateau)

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the status is of the offshore wind farm proposals for the Tunes Plateau near Portstewart, Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The development consortium has not yet made any application for the establishment of the proposed wind farm at Tunes Plateau.

Visitors from Great Britain

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of people from Great Britain that have visited Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Angela Smith: Figures relating to the number of Great Britain visitors to Northern Ireland over the last five years (200004) and the forecast number of Great Britain visitors to Northern Ireland in 2005 are presented in the following table:
	
		GB visitors to Northern Ireland200005
		
			  Trips (000) 
		
		
			 2000 950 
			 2001 1,053 
			 2002 1,160 
			 2003(57) 1,379 
			 2004 1,408 
			 2005(58) 1,339 
		
	
	(57)2003 figures have been revised to reflect comparable changes to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and Failte Ireland surveys. Due to changes in methodologies 2003 and 2004 data are not directly comparable with data pre-2003.
	(58)Forecast.

Websites

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  if he will list the websites that come under his Department's responsibility; what the cost was of each in the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to each site in that year;
	(2)  when he will reply to question 15900, tabled by the hon. Member for Brent, East on 21 July.

Peter Hain: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in providing this response. This was due to an administrative error.
	The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is responsible forthree websites, the NIO website, Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) website, and the Criminal Justice Services Northern Ireland (CJSNI) website. Associated costs for each website and number of visitors for the period January 2005 to December 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			 Website Design costs () Yearly maintenance costs () Number of unique visitors (January to December 2005) 
		
		
			 Northern Ireland Office 0 7,200 156,457 
			 
			 Organised Crime Task Force 11,406.90 400 21,811 
			 
			 Criminal Justice Services  Northern Ireland 3,507.51 3,305 7,374

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Audible Fire Alarms

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of the premises occupied by her Department is fitted with audible fire alarms.

Maria Eagle: All premises occupied by the Department have audible fire alarms or sounders, i.e.fire bells.

Academies

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the civil servants in her Department's new projects remit who are responsible for action in respect of academies; what the (a) grade and (b) role in the Department is of each; and if she will list the actions they undertake in respect of academies.

Jacqui Smith: The disclosure of the names of civil servants in the Academies Group's New Projects Unit is not compatible with the principles of the Data Protection Act. I have therefore given the grades and responsibilities of those staff in the following table:
	
		
			 Title Grade Role/actions 
		
		
			 Head of New Projects Grade 5 Head of Unit; Oversight of sponsor brokering; allocates academy projects to Project Leads; reports to Ministers on progress towards 2010 target. 
			 Project Lead (x2) Grade 7 Lead official on early academy project negotiations; supporting development of formal expression of interest progressing to submission for ministerial approval. 
			 Team LeaderInternal Relations Grade 7 Management of New Projects Office; correspondence and briefing; NPU contact for internal Dept policy meetings. 
			 Team LeaderExternal Relations Grade 7 Management of sponsor relations; lead official on due diligence policy; liaison with Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. 
			 Assistant Project Lead (2) Higher Executive Officer Support to Project lead. 
			 Internal Relations/Sponsor Support Higher Executive Officer Support to Heads of Internal and External Relations. 
			 Ministerial Priorities Fast Streamer Direct support to Minister, Director of Academies and Head of NPU briefing on potential academy projects and leading on early academy project negotiations.

Aylesbury Vale

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the policy implications for her Department of the growth in population in Aylesbury Vale.

Jacqui Smith: Population projections and demographic data are used to ensure our capital programmes support local responsiveness that can meet the demands and needs of forecast population changes. Additional pupils from a growing population will therefore generate extra funding for the local authority.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time child care places have been available in each year since 1997, broken down by area.

Beverley Hughes: The Department is unable to provide details of part-time child care places available as such data have not been collected.
	A list of child care places available broken down by local authority since 2003 is as follows.
	
		Child care places
		
			  March 
			 Local authority 2003 2004 2005 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,987 2,244 2,316 
			 Barnet 6,371 6,666 7,567 
			 Barnsley 2,367 3,038 3,465 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3,223 3,346 3,741 
			 Bedfordshire 7,840 8,766 8,427 
			 Bexley 2,981 3,440 3,739 
			 Birmingham 22,378 24,927 26,106 
			 Blackburn UA 2,714 3,693 4,078 
			 Blackpool UA 3,091 3,435 3,693 
			 Bolton 5,856 6,901 7,202 
			 Bournemouth UA 2,514 3,311 4,141 
			 Bracknell Forest UA 3,312 3,592 3,403 
			 Bradford 7,837 9,251 10,077 
			 Brent 4.281 4,955 5,208 
			 Brighton and Hove UA 5,276 5,758 6,211 
			 Bristol 8,024 9,026 8,993 
			 Bromley 5,008 5,737 6,237 
			 Buckinghamshire 11,043 12,254 12,907 
			 Bury 5,797 6,348 6,835 
			 Calderdale 4,862 5,493 6,097 
			 Cambridgeshire 13,509 15,106 16,116 
			 Camden 4,486 4,719 4,600 
			 Cheshire 17,026 18,605 19,485 
			 City Of London 308 430 475 
			 Cornwall 6,984 8,520 9,390 
			 Coventry 6,437 7,203 7,806 
			 Croydon 7,299 8,046 9,434 
			 Cumbria 6,121 8,456 9,474 
			 Darlington UA 2,371 2,666 2,829 
			 Derby UA 5,510 6,149 6,355 
			 Derbyshire 11,828 12,773 13,916 
			 Devon 13,694 14,425 15,407 
			 Doncaster 3,478 4,423 5,275 
			 Dorset 5,894 6,372 7,036 
			 Dudley 4,528 4,880 5,094 
			 Durham 7,078 7,998 8,534 
			 Ealing 5,795 6,574 6,989 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 5,818 6.510 6,523 
			 East Sussex 8,190 10,040 10,667 
			 Enfield 4,275 4,670 4,887 
			 Essex 21,064 22,213 23,281 
			 Gateshead 3,343 3,806 4,395 
			 Gloucestershire 14,174 14,358 14,759 
			 Greenwich 4,485 5,097 5,473 
			 Hackney 2,908 3,455 5,106 
			 Halton UA 1,960 3,164 3,327 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,835 3,158 3,799 
			 Hampshire 27,288 31,769 33,592 
			 Haringey 2,493 3,330 3,926 
			 Harrow 2,905 3,397 3,456 
			 Hartlepool UA 1,474 2,007 2,433 
			 Havering 2,445 2,904 3,373 
			 Herefordshire 4,126 4,498 4,530 
			 Hertfordshire 23,256 26,983 28,254 
			 Hillingdon 4,971 5,226 5,111 
			 Hounslow 3,311 3,637 4,190 
			 Isle Of Wight 3,159 3,385 3,620 
			 Isles Of Scilly 187 111 110 
			 Islington 4,325 4,567 4,903 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,023 3,289 3,405 
			 Kent 24,589 27,943 30,754 
			 Kingston Upon Hull 3,515 4,035 4,340 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 2,932 3,428 3,778 
			 Kirklees 7,585 8,466 9,068 
			 Knowsley 2,763 3,239 3,826 
			 Lambeth 4,551 5,641 6,268 
			 Lancashire 22,538 26,391 29,008 
			 Leeds 15,776 16,178 17,001 
			 Leicester UA 5,886 6,028 6,216 
			 Leicestershire 12,125 13,857 14,485 
			 Lewisham 4,683 5,712 6,163 
			 Lincolnshire 12,129 13,828 14,484 
			 Liverpool 7,396 9,006 10,062 
			 Luton UA 2,286 3,184 3,726 
			 Manchester 9,723 11,101 11,325 
			 Medway 5,122 5,856 6,298 
			 Merton 3,821 4,554 4,883 
			 Middlesbrough 3,129 2,983 3,235 
			 Milton Keynes UA 5,874 6,536 7,682 
			 NE Lincolnshire 1,578 2,199 2,597 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 4,710 5,338 5,515 
			 Newham 3,886 5,078 5,263 
			 Norfolk 10,674 13,435 14,023 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,028 2,420 2,746 
			 North Somerset 3,084 3,766 4,326 
			 North Tyneside 2,776 4,067 3,962 
			 North Yorkshire 11,793 13,593 13,717 
			 Northamptonshire 12,813 14,827 16,416 
			 Northumberland 5,636 6,391 6,877 
			 Nottingham UA 6,234 6,725 6,854 
			 Nottinghamshire 15,819 18,180 18,262 
			 Oldham 4,542 6,148 6,473 
			 Oxfordshire 16,221 18,276 18,514 
			 Peterborough UA 4,554 5,569 5,972 
			 Plymouth 4,656 5,567 5,981 
			 Poole UA 2,216 2,501 2,580 
			 Portsmouth UA 4,432 5.002 5,631 
			 Reading 3,656 4,614 4,619 
			 Redbridge 3,538 4,129 5,180 
			 Redcar and Cleveland UA 1,903 2,560 2,554 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 4,354 4,777 5,344 
			 Rochdale 4,957 5,662 5,334 
			 Rotherham 3,297 3,875 3,954 
			 Rutland UA 787 951 1,070 
			 Salford 4,589 5,392 5,504 
			 Sandwell 4,276 4,907 4,813 
			 Sefton 3,573 4,472 4,719 
			 Sheffield 9,732 11,460 12,489 
			 Shropshire 6,118 6,893 7,320 
			 Slough UA 2,187 2,080 2,575 
			 Solihull 5,644 5,672 6,060 
			 Somerset 9,846 10,635 10,815 
			 South Gloucestershire 5,070 5,540 6,072 
			 South Tyneside 1,934 3,746 3,195 
			 Southampton UA 3,755 5,220 5,387 
			 Southend UA 2,342 3,166 3,276 
			 Southwark 6,156 7,162 8,481 
			 St. Helens 2,534 3,045 4,028 
			 Staffordshire 18,482 21,321 22,463 
			 Stockport 6,322 6,915 7,361 
			 Stockton-On-Tees UA 2,810 3,607 4,049 
			 Stoke-On-Trent 4,544 5,150 5,560 
			 Suffolk 8,504 11,430 12,802 
			 Sunderland 3,155 3,645 4,317 
			 Surrey 26,021 27,856 28,921 
			 Sutton 3,108 3,568 4,228 
			 Swindon 4,406 5,133 5,400 
			 Tameside 4,564 5,252 5,810 
			 Telford And Wrekin UA 4,540 4,733 4,476 
			 Thurrock UA 1,861 2,565 2,660 
			 Torbay UA 1,691 2,385 2,491 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,688 3,343 3,538 
			 Trafford 6,693 7,459 7,229 
			 Wakefield 3,466 4,260 5,099 
			 Walsall 3,885 4,757 4,665 
			 Waltham Forest 5,189 5,555 5,501 
			 Wandsworth 7,338 8,209 8,410 
			 Warrington UA 6,233 7,176 7,025 
			 Warwickshire 11,931 13,086 14,183 
			 West Berks 5,055 4,687 5,373 
			 West Sussex 13,865 15,491 17,007 
			 Westminster 3,093 3,300 3,058 
			 Wigan 5,528 6,681 7,122 
			 Wiltshire 10,871 11,500 12,464 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead UA 3,817 4,370 4,710 
			 Wirral 6,403 6,888 7,203 
			 Wokingham UA 5,112 5,100 5,486 
			 Wolverhampton 4,317 4,522 5,024 
			 Worcestershire 12,739 14,451 14,365 
			 York UA 4,149 4,186 4,393

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what target for free early education and child care for (a) three and (b) four-year-olds has been set for (i) 2007 and (ii) 2010.

Beverley Hughes: With effect from April 2006, the minimum free entitlement for three and four-year-olds of 12.5 hours a week will increase from 33 to 38 weeks. By 2010, in line with the commitments set out in the 10-Year Childcare Strategy, the free entitlement will be further extended to 15 hours per week for all three and four-year-olds and parents who wish to do so will be able to take up the entitlement more flexibly across a minimum of three days per week. No targets have been set for 2007, although the Government is considering options for a phased roll out of the extended, more flexible entitlement. Our overall target remains to secure access to a free place for every three and four-year-old whose parents want one. Take up is already high with 96 per cent. of three-year-olds and virtually all four-year-olds benefiting from some free provision.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets she has for expanding the number of child care places (a) in total, (b) for children with disabilities, (c) for children with special educational needs and (d) for minority ethnic children; and what progress has been made towards meeting each target.

Beverley Hughes: The Department's public service agreement (PSA) target 2(a) , owned jointly with DWP, is to increase the stock of Ofsted registered child care places by 10 per cent. by 2008. I am pleased to announce that this target has already been met. The stock of child care places rose from 1,102 million in March 2004 to 1,220 million in September 2005, an increase of 10.7 per cent.
	The Department has no specific targets for children with disabilities, special education needs or minority ethnic children. However, our PSA target 2(b) is to increase the take by 50 per cent. of formal child care by lower income working families, and we know that families from these groups are disproportionately represented among lower income groups. Additionally, the Childcare Bill, currently before Parliament, requires local authorities to secure, so far as is practicable, sufficient child care places to meet the needs of parents. The Bill specifically requires local authorities to have regard for the needs of parents for child care which is suitable for disabled children, including children with special educational needs.
	Child care for black and minority ethnic children will be met in the wider duty within the Bill to secure sufficient child care that meets the needs of all parents. The major barriers that black and minority ethnic families face in accessing child care relate to cost and information. Both of these issues are being addressed in the Bill by the focus on the needs of lower income families and the information duty respectively. Additionally, the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 requires all listed public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and ensure they take account of race equality in their service delivery, which includes child care.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what targets she has in relation to the qualifications of people working in child care; and if she will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: Our 10-year strategy for child care, published in December 2004, sets out the Government's vision of child care services in this country becoming among the best in the world. We aim to have a better qualified workforce, with more workers trained to professional level. In our Children's Workforce Strategy, published in April 2005, we propose to have an early years' professional in every children's centre by 2010 and in every full day care setting by 2015. In the workforce strategy, we also propose to have a greater proportion of the early years and child care workforce qualified to at least level 2, we aim to increase the number of childminders qualified to level 3 and we aim to work towards our long term vision of graduate managers in all full day care settings.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people worked as home child carers in each year since the home child carers scheme was established.

Beverley Hughes: Between April 2004 and April 2005 the total number of carers approved under the Home Childcarer Scheme was 300 and, since it was replaced in April 2005 by the Childcare Approval Scheme, a further 1,339 carers have been approved. We do not have records of how many people have worked as home child carers because, under both the Home Childcarer and Childcare Approval Schemes, it is the individual that is approved and details of employment are not required.

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what responses she has received to the consultation on expanding the home child carers scheme.

Beverley Hughes: The consultation Childcare: extending protection and broadening support closed on 16 August 2004 with 149 responses having been received. Overall the majority of respondents agreed with the proposals. Details of the responses can be found on the DfES consultation website at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations/conResults.cfm? consultationld=1247

Child Care

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the members of the Advisory Group of Key Stakeholders on Childcare.

Beverley Hughes: There is no such specific group. However, the Government are always interested in hearing the views of key stakeholders and take every opportunity to do so. We consulted widely on proposals contained in the 10-year strategy for child care and on the contents of the Childcare Bill, currently before Parliament.
	In addition, the Children, Young People and Families Board of Stakeholders, which includes Ministers and senior representatives from a wide range of organisations, discusses child care from time to time.

Class Sizes

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size was in primary schools in (a) England and (b) the Hartlepool local education authority area in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary schools(59): average class size taught by one teacher(60)England and Hartlepool local authority
		
			 Position as at Average class size 
			 January each year England Hartlepool 
		
		
			 1997 27.5 28.0 
			 1998 27.7 28.0 
			 1999 27.5 27.1 
			 2000 27.1 26.8 
			 2001 26.7 26.3 
			 2002 26.3 25.8 
			 2003 26.3 26.2 
			 2004 26.2 25.4 
			 2005 26.2 25.3 
		
	
	(59)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(60)Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school on the day of the census in January.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census.

Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size is in primary schools in (a) affluent and (b) deprived areas; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Information provided in the table shows class size data for primary schools in relation to the proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals (FSM). This indicates that the average class size is smaller in schools with the highest proportions of disadvantaged pupils (as assessed by FSM eligibility) than in those schools with the lowest proportions.
	In addition, the rate of decrease in the average class size between 1997 and 2005 is greater in schools with the highest proportions of disadvantaged pupils than in those schools with the lowest proportions.
	
		Maintained primary schools(61): average class size by free school meal eligibility(62): position in January each year 1997 and 2005
		
			  Proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals(63) 
			  Less than or equal to 8 per cent. Greater than 50 per cent. All primary schools 
			  1997 2005 1997 2005 1997 2005 
		
		
			 Key stage 1 classes(64)   
			 Average class size 27.1 26.1 25.2 24.1 26.9 25.6 
			 Number of classes 15,980 21,420 3,730 2,290 61,110 55,860 
			 Percentage of classes with 31 or more pupils 27.6 1.6 11.4 1.0 23.9 1.2 
			 Number of pupils 432,460 559,850 94,190 55,090 1,646,660 1,430,150 
			 Percentage of pupils in classes with 31 or more pupils(65) 33.4 1.9 14.6 1.3 29.0 1.5 
			
			 Key stage 2 classes   
			 Average class size 28.5 28 26.1 24.9 28.1 27.3 
			 Number of classes 17,620 26,920 5,710 3,250 73,180 73,480 
			 Percentage of classes with 31 or more pupils 38.0 27.6 14.1 6.3 32.4 20.9 
			 Number of pupils 502,070 753,200 149,120 80,860 2,056,840 2,002,610 
			 Percentage of pupils in classes with 31 or more pupils 43.9 32.1 17.5 8.1 37.9 24.9 
			
			 Classes in primary schools   
			 Average class size 27.7 26.8 25.8 24.3 27.5 26.2 
			 Number of classes 36,380 54,830 10,310 6,420 146,430 146,860 
			 Percentage of classes with 31 or more pupils 32.2 15.4 13.3 4.7 27.9 12.2 
			 Number of pupils 1,007,430 1,470,370 265,700 155,760 4,025,160 3,851,810 
			 Percentage of pupils in classes with 31 or more pupils 38.2 18.6 16.9 6.5 33.4 15.2 
		
	
	(61)Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(62)Classes as taught during a single selected period in each school in the day of the census in January. Classes taught by one teacher.
	(63)The proportion of school population known to be eligible for free school meals. Includes dually registered pupils.
	(64)Includes reception classes.
	(65)Key stage 1 classes of 31 or more may contain pupils who have been admitted as exceptions.
	Note:
	Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Class Sizes

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils were in primary school classes of 25 or more pupils in each year since 199091; what percentage of the relevant age cohort this represents in each case; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is shown in the following table. There have been infant class-size limits since 1998, but these do not apply to other primary school year groups.
	However, the knock-on effect of infant class-size legislation has been to contribute to an overall reduction in the size of primary classes.
	
		Maintained primary schools(66): number of pupils in classes of 25 and over(67) 19912005, England
		
			  Size of class 
			  25 to 30 31 and over Total 25 and over 
			 Position in January each year Number of pupils Percentage of pupils(68) Number of pupils Percentage of pupils(68) Number of pupils Percentage of pupils(68) 
		
		
			 1991 n/a n/a 911,218 25.5 n/a n/a 
			 1992 n/a n/a 902,802 24.9 n/a n/a 
			 1993 1,976,342 53.1 985,973 26.5 2,962,315 79.7 
			 1994 2,012,846 52.8 1,076,173 28.2 3,089,019 81.0 
			 1995 2,052,121 52.5 1,155,715 29.6 3,207,836 82.1 
			 1996 2,042,571 51.5 1,260,551 31.8 3,303,122 83.3 
			 1997 2,033,122 50.5 1,344,231 33.4 3,377,353 83.9 
			 1998 2,021,334 49.9 1,410,762 34.8 3,432,096 84.6 
			 1999 2,109,101 52.1 1,277,250 31.5 3,386,351 83.6 
			 2000 2,242,734 55.4 1,071,720 26.5 3,314,454 81.9 
			 2001 2,347,916 58.5 848,961 21.1 3,196,877 79.6 
			 2002 2,363,870 59.9 703,097 17.8 3,066,967 77.7 
			 2003 2,406,098 61.4 638,511 16.3 3,044,609 111 
			 2004 2,430,233 62.5 594,534 15.3 3,024,767 77.8 
			 2005 2,404,253 62.4 584,163 15.2 2,988,416 77.6 
		
	
	n/a=not available.
	(66)Includes middle schools as deemed
	(67)One teacher classes.
	(68)Number of pupils of classes of size expressed as a percentage of pupils in all classes.

Class Sizes

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average spending per child in primary schools was in each local education authority in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The information requested is contained within the following table:
	
		Pre-primary and primary school based expenditure(69)(5508670070)(71) per pupil(72) (199798 to 200405)(73)(74)(75)(76)
		
			  199798 199899 19992000* 
			  Pre-primary and primary education Pre-primary and primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education 
		
		
			 England 1,740 1,870 2,010 2,050 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,970 2,160 2,250 2,270 
			 Barnet 1,860 1,960 2,390 2,410 
			 Barnsley 1,560 1,680 1,840 1,860 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 1,720 1,820 2,010 2,060 
			 Bedfordshire 1,750 1,780 1,970 2,000 
			 Berkshire 1,610
			 Bexley 1,590 1,770 1,930 1,960 
			 Birmingham 1,940 2,200 2,260 2,370 
			 Blackburn with Darwen  1,840 2,000 2,120 
			 Blackpool  1,690 1,870 1,890 
			 Bolton 1,750 2,000 2,000 2,030 
			 Bournemouth 1,480 1,700 1,820 1,850 
			 Bracknell Forest  1,620 1,880 1,900 
			 Bradford 2,140 2,240 1,980 2,020 
			 Brent 2,030 2,190 2,470 2,510 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,550 1.750 1,850 1,940 
			 Bromley 1,720 1,910 2,010 2,040 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,630 1,700 1,840 1,840 
			 Bury 1,490 1,640 1,780 1,800 
			 Calderdale 1,660 1,860 1,950 1,960 
			 Pre LGR Cambridgeshire 1,580
			 Cambridgeshire  1,6404 1,810 1,840 
			 Camden 2,390 2,520 2,440 2,750 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire 1,710
			 Cheshire  1,770 1,780 1,790 
			 City of Bristol 1,810 1,930 2,200 2,270 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 1,680 1,940 1,980 2,000 
			 City of London 3,810 3,970 4,180 4,510 
			 City of Nottingham  1,950 2,090 2,120 
			 City of Peterborough  1,830 1,590 1,650 
			 City of Plymouth  1,700 1,940 1,960 
			 Cornwall 1,670 1,820 1,900 1,930 
			 Coventry 1,800 1,970 2,190 2,220 
			 Croydon 1,910 2,010 2,130 2,180 
			 Cumbria 1,860 1,880 2,050 2,070 
			 Darlington 1,420 1,570 1,790 1,860 
			 Derby 1,670 1,850 1,940 1,990 
			 Derbyshire 1,580 1,730 1,820 1,840 
			 Pre LGR Devon 1,630
			 Devon  1,730 1,950 1,980 
			 Doncaster 1,890 1,930 2,070 2,070 
			 Dorset 1,640 1,780 1,870 1,890 
			 Dudley 1,570 1,790 1,980 2,010 
			 Durham 1,690 1,810 2,050 2,100 
			 Ealing 2,020 2,170 2,220 2,310 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,610 1,620 1,790 1,810 
			 East Sussex 1,670 1,800 1,910 1,930 
			 Enfield 1,900 2,040 2,230 2,260 
			 Pre LGR Essex 1,740
			 Essex  1,950 1,970 1,970 
			 Gateshead 1,700 1,800 1,950 1,970 
			 Gloucestershire 1,640 1,800 1,850 1,960 
			 Greenwich 2,190 2,410 2,590 2,690 
			 Hackney 2,420 2,490 2,740 2,980 
			 Halton  1,870 2,030 2,090 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,520 2,560 2,920 3,050 
			 Hampshire 1,700 1,760 1,960 1,970 
			 Haringey 2,360 2,490 2,460 2,550 
			 Harrow 2,140 2,260 2,320 2,430 
			 Hartlepool 1,500 1,650 1,760 1,780 
			 Havering 1,750 1,840 1,960 1,970 
			 Hereford and Worcester 1,660
			 Herefordshire  1,780 1,840 1,850 
			 Hertfordshire 1,760 1,880 1,930 1,960 
			 Hillingdon 1,730 1,770 2,100 2,110 
			 Hounslow 2,060 2,240 2,340 2,380 
			 Isle of Wight 1,800 2,000 2,190 2,230 
			 Isles of Scilly 2,560 2,570 2,510 2,520 
			 Islington 2,340 2,330 2,370 2,520 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,650 2,750 2,960 3,050 
			 Pre LGR Kent 1,700
			 Kent  1,860 2,140 2,210 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 1,830 1,940 2,070 2,110 
			 Kirklees 1,650 1,850 2,020 2,060 
			 Knowsley 1,700 1,870 2,120 2,120 
			 Lambeth 2,810 2,930 2,710 3,020 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire 1,670
			 Lancashire  1,820 1,950 1,980 
			 Leeds 1,710 1,910 2,100 2,120 
			 Leicester city 1,740 1,910 2,130 2,150 
			 Leicestershire 1,660 1,810 1,930 2,000 
			 Lewisham 2,340 2,510 2,560 2,710 
			 Lincolnshire 1,680 1,740 1,870 1,870 
			 Liverpool 1,660 1,840 1,970 1,980 
			 Luton 1,700 1,830 2,040 2,080 
			 Manchester 1,620 1,740 1,920 1,950 
			 Medway  1,790 1,970 1,930 
			 Merton 2,060 2,160 2,220 2,260 
			 Middlesbrough 1,580 1,620 1,920 1,920 
			 Milton Keynes 1,610 1,770 1,960 2,030 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 1,940 1,960 2,060 2,120 
			 Newham 1,850 2,010 2,200 2,290 
			 Norfolk 1,710 1,730 1,800 1,810 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1,600 1,830 2,060 2,140 
			 North Lincolnshire 1,650 1,710 1,880 1,900 
			 North Somerset 1,690 1,870 1,880 1,890 
			 North Tyneside 1,640 1,800 1,860 1,920 
			 North Yorkshire 1,650 1,750 1,980 1,990 
			 Northamptonshire 1.580 1,720 1,910 1,930 
			 Northumberland 1,620 1,810 1,960 2,000 
			 Pre LGR Nottinghamshire 1,720
			 Nottinghamshire  1,810 2,010 2,030 
			 0ldham 1,650 1,820 2,040 2,100 
			 0xfordshire 1,630 1,750 1,830 1,870 
			 Poole 1,510 1,600 1,700 1,710 
			 Portsmouth 1,780 1,940 2,170 2,220 
			 Reading  1,670 1,660 1,710 
			 Redbridge 1,810 1,880 2,070 2,080 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,630 1,790 2,000 2,010 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 1,940 2,020 2,110 2,120 
			 Rochdale 1,680 1,770 1,900 1,960 
			 Rotherham 1,580 1,780 2,050 2,080 
			 Rutland 1,890 2,130 2,160 2,190 
			 Salford 1,560 1,630 1,990 2,010 
			 Sandwell 1,850 2,040 2,110 2,120 
			 Sefton 1,590 1,670 1,840 1,850 
			 Sheffield 1,680 1,760 1,960 2,090 
			 Pre LGR Shropshire 1,680
			 Shropshire  1,830 1,880 1,910 
			 Slough  2,070 2,130 2,340 
			 Solihull 1,630 1,770 1,920 1,930 
			 Somerset 1,700 1,820 1,930 1,950 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,650 1,780 1,900 1,920 
			 South Tyneside 1,560 1,760 1,920 1,950 
			 Southampton 1,830 1,960 2,140 2,160 
			 Southend  1,870 2,040 2,040 
			 Southwark 2,330 2,520 2,730 2,850 
			 St Helens 1,600 1,700 2,000 2,030 
			 Staffordshire 1,580 1,670 1,850 1,860 
			 Stockport 1,570 1,750 1,860 1,890 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,450 1,610 1,970 2,000 
			 Stoke 1,600 1,810 1,970 2,030 
			 Suffolk 1,770 1,900 2,000 2,060 
			 Sunderland 1,660 1,830 1,950 2,030 
			 Surrey 1,780 1,910 1,960 2,040 
			 Sutton 1,870 2,030 2,230 2,270 
			 Swindon 1,580 1,620 1,580 1,590 
			 Tameside 1,590 1,720 1,640 1,650 
			 Telford and Wrekin  1,670 1,700 1,770 
			 Thurrock  1,800 2,060 2,070 
			 Torbay  1,680 1,860 1,880 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,600 2,770 3,090 3,140 
			 Trafford 1,580 1,710 1,830 1,840 
			 Wakefield 1,560 1,710 1,890 1,930 
			 Walsall 1,630 1,790 2,030 2,070 
			 Waltham Forest 2,110 2,160 2,430 2,560 
			 Wandsworth 2,210 2,390 2,530 2,700 
			 Warrington  1,740 1,880 1,900 
			 Warwickshire 1,670 1,780 1,910 1,930 
			 West Berkshire  1,760 1,950 1,980 
			 West Sussex 1,730 1,860 1,950 2,020 
			 Westminster 2,590 2,860 2,810 2,900 
			 Wigan 1,520 1,610 1,900 1,920 
			 Wiltshire 1,690 1,740 1,720 1,720 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead  1,860 2,020 2,050 
			 Wirral 1,600 1,810 1,810 1,840 
			 Wokingham  1,650 1,800 1,820 
			 Wolverhampton 1,750 1,870 2,000 2,040 
			 Worcestershire  1,720 1,830 1,840 
			 York 1,600 1,730 1,760 1,800 
		
	
	
		
			  200001 200102 
			  Primary education Pre-primary and primary education Primary education Pre-primary and primary education 
		
		
			 England 2,210 2,280 2,480 2,570 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,450 2,490 2,880 2,940 
			 Barnet 2,350 2,390 2,640 2,710 
			 Barnsley 1,980 2,020 2,250 2,350 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 2,180 2,250 2,240 2,380 
			 Bedfordshire 2,260 2,350 2,550 2,700 
			 Berkshire 
			 Bexley 2,070 2,090 2,320 2,350 
			 Birmingham 2,460 2,580 2,730 2,860 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2,260 2,410 2,560 2,750 
			 Blackpool 2,200 2,210 2,390 2,450 
			 Bolton 2,260 2,290 2,500 2,560 
			 Bournemouth 2,020 2,070 2,270 2,340 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,120 2,120 2,330 2,330 
			 Bradford 2,270 2,340 2,780 2,860 
			 Brent 2,550 2,600 2,910 2,950 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,050 2,210 2,330 2,430 
			 Bromley 2,170 2,220 2,440 2,490 
			 Buckinghamshire 1,800 1,800 1,950 1,960 
			 Bury 2,010 2,040 2,180 2,220 
			 Calderdale 2,160 2,170 2,400 2,410 
			 Pre LGR Cambridgeshire 
			 Cambridgeshire 2,020 2,070 2,280 2,330 
			 Camden 2,650 3,040 3,140 3,690 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire 
			 Cheshire 1,880 1,900 2,060 2,100 
			 City of Bristol 2,380 2,620 2,450 2,720 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 2,270 2,290 2,760 2,800 
			 City of London 4,520 4,740 4,630 4,630 
			 City of Nottingham 2,260 2,310 2,800 2,860 
			 City of Peterborough 2,220 2,340 2,360 2,420 
			 City of Plymouth 2,150 2,200 2,440 2,510 
			 Cornwall 2,030 2,070 2,270 2,340 
			 Coventry 2,400 2,430 2,770 2,820 
			 Croydon 2,350 2,390 2,780 2,870 
			 Cumbria 2,240 2,270 2,550 2,550 
			 Darlington 1,930 2,010 2,290 2,390 
			 Derby 2,170 2,330 2,610 2,840 
			 Derbyshire 2,020 2,040 2,250 2,290 
			 Pre LGR Devon 
			 Devon 2,060 2,090 2,260 2,300 
			 Doncaster 2,230 2,240 2,520 2,550 
			 Dorset 2,140 2,160 2,350 2,400 
			 Dudley 2,170 2,240 2,420 2,520 
			 Durham 2,290 2,340 2,600 2,660 
			 Ealing 2,370 2,500 2,720 2,890 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,160 2,200 2,300 2,350 
			 East Sussex 2,130 2,170 2,390 2,440 
			 Enfield 2,400 2,470 2,740 2,840 
			 Pre LGR Essex 
			 Essex 2,240 2,250 2,460 2,480 
			 Gateshead 2,220 2,260 2,300 2,410 
			 Gloucestershire 2,170 2,340 2,260 2,510 
			 Greenwich 2,830 2,990 3,210 3,430 
			 Hackney 3,310 3,860 3,160 3,480 
			 Halton 2,110 2,130 2,560 2,630 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,020 3,260 3,220 3,360 
			 Hampshire 2,150 2,160 2,370 2,380 
			 Haringey 2,590 2,780 3,080 3,440 
			 Harrow 2,490 2,540 2,890 2,990 
			 Hartlepool 2,070 2,090 2,550 2,620 
			 Havering 2,200 2,230 2,390 2,430 
			 Hereford and Worcester 
			 Herefordshire 2,130 2,150 2,330 2,390 
			 Hertfordshire 2,100 2,140 2,370 2,410 
			 Hillingdon 2,200 2,220 2,430 2,470 
			 Hounslow 2,470 2,530 2,820 2,880 
			 Isle of Wight 2,480 2,550 2,730 2,830 
			 Isles of Scilly 2,640 2,640 2,970 3,880 
			 Islington 2,720 3,030 3,020 3,280 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,270 3,380 3,440 3,600 
			 Pre LGR Kent 
			 Kent 2,220 2,320 2,520 2,670 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 2,270 2,280 2,630 2,650 
			 Kirklees 2,240 2,340 2,460 2,520 
			 Knowsley 2,300 2,350 2,510 2,580 
			 Lambeth 2,730 2,940 2,730 2,970 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire 
			 Lancashire 2,160 2,220 2,450 2,530 
			 Leeds 2,000 2,040 2,600 2,660 
			 Leicester city 2,390 2,460 2,640 2,730 
			 Leicestershire 2,080 2,160 2,260 2,420 
			 Lewisham 2,680 2,970 3,120 3,370 
			 Lincolnshire 1,990 2,000 2,070 2,090 
			 Liverpool 2,540 2,580 2,770 2,860 
			 Luton 2,590 2,650 2,700 2,800 
			 Manchester 2,250 2,280 2,650 2,680 
			 Medway 2,230 2,240 2,450 2,500 
			 Merton 2,400 2,450 2,690 2,770 
			 Middlesbrough 2,210 2,230 2,540 2,570 
			 Milton Keynes 2,040 2,140 2,450 2,600 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,260 2,350 2,570 2,670 
			 Newham 2,460 2,590 2,930 3,090 
			 Norfolk 1,970 2,030 2,350 2,470 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,330 2,480 2,590 2,740 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,200 2,330 2,540 2,590 
			 North Somerset 2,070 2,090 2,090 2,130 
			 North Tyneside 1,770 1,810 2,240 2,320 
			 North Yorkshire 2,060 2,070 2,350 2,370 
			 Northamptonshire 2,160 2,180 2,340 2,390 
			 Northumberland 2,200 2,260 2,450 2,560 
			 Pre LGR Nottinghamshire 
			 Nottinghamshire 2,220 2,240 2,410 2,430 
			 0ldham 2,090 2,190 2,500 2,630 
			 0xfordshire 2,230 2,280 2,510 2,540 
			 Poole 1,820 1,730 2,060 2,080 
			 Portsmouth 2,260 2,330 2,480 2,580 
			 Reading 1,700 1,750 2,010 2,070 
			 Redbridge 2,280 2,290 2,610 2,660 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,090 2,110 2,420 2,470 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 2,380 2,430 2,690 2,750 
			 Rochdale 2,100 2,270 2,420 2,570 
			 Rotherham 2,360 2,400 2,620 2,700 
			 Rutland 2,260 2,320 2,570 2,680 
			 Salford 2,300 2,380 2,560 2,630 
			 Sandwell 2,190 2,210 2,510 2,540 
			 Sefton 2,050 2,080 2,240 2,290 
			 Sheffield 2,260 2,410 2,500 2,66 
			 Pre LGR Shropshire 
			 Shropshire 1,990 2,020 2,250 2,300 
			 Slough 2,400 2,600 2,560 2,760 
			 Solihull 2,090 2,110 2,250 2,260 
			 Somerset 2,140 2,240 2,360 2,510 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,190 2,200 2,340 2,370 
			 South Tyneside 2,160 2,220 2,580 2,660 
			 Southampton 2,360 2,400 2,570 2,610 
			 Southend 2,220 2,230 2,530 2,560 
			 Southwark 2,980 3,070 3,760 3,810 
			 St Helens 2,190 2,240 2,410 2,470 
			 Staffordshire 2,070 2,110 2,290 2,360 
			 Stockport 2,180 2,230 2,370 2,410 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,190 2,250 2,440 2,560 
			 Stoke 2,080 2,150 2,400 2,510 
			 Suffolk 2,220 2,290 2,420 2,560 
			 Sunderland 2,180 2,280 2,470 2,620 
			 Surrey 2,160 2,270 2,380 2,430 
			 Sutton 2,430 2,510 2,640 2,700 
			 Swindon 2,030 2,030 2,000 2,030 
			 Tameside 1,970 2,010 2,420 2,500 
			 Telford and Wrekin 2,060 2,200 2,320 2,440 
			 Thurrock 2,050 2,160 2,540 2,710 
			 Torbay 2,080 2,090 2,260 2,290 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,350 3,400 3,670 3,820 
			 Trafford 2,190 2,220 2,360 2,400 
			 Wakefield 2,100 2,160 2,450 2,490 
			 Walsall 2,200 2,260 2,450 2,560 
			 Waltham Forest 2,480 2,560 3,080 3,140 
			 Wandsworth 2,900 3,100 3,220 3,480 
			 Warrington 1,980 1,990 2,220 2,250 
			 Warwickshire 1,990 2,020 2,190 2,240 
			 West Berkshire 2,210 2,270 2,560 2,650 
			 West Sussex 2,200 2,270 2,360 2,500 
			 Westminster 3,390 3,680 3,780 4,180 
			 Wigan 2,330 2,340 2,480 2,500 
			 Wiltshire 1,920 1,930 2,010 2,020 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,480 2,560 2,600 2,710 
			 Wirral 2,030 2,060 2,400 2,450 
			 Wokingham 1,980 2,010 2,210 2,270 
			 Wolverhampton 2,070 2,120 2,390 2,500 
			 Worcestershire 2,060 2,090 2,320 2,370 
			 York 1,860 1,870 2,180 2,260 
		
	
	
		
			  200203* 200304 200405 
			  Primary education Primary education Primary education 
		
		
			 England 2,530 2,750 2,910 
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,760 3,110 3,150 
			 Barnet 2,820 3,050 3,280 
			 Barnsley 2,550 2,680 2,910 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 2,480 2,670 2,850 
			 Bedfordshire 2,540 2,710 2,830 
			 Berkshire
			 Bexley 2,390 2,630 2,810 
			 Birmingham 2,720 2,940 3,200 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 2,540 2,730 2,910 
			 Blackpool 2,370 2,660 2,880 
			 Bolton 2,410 2,620 2,760 
			 Bournemouth 2,390 2,520 2,670 
			 Bracknell Forest 2,390 2,580 2,730 
			 Bradford 2,770 2,960 3,070 
			 Brent 2,780 3,080 3,230 
			 Brighton and Hove 2,480 2,660 2,820 
			 Bromley 2,400 2,590 2,690 
			 Buckinghamshire 2,350 2,600 2,740 
			 Bury 2,220 2,460 2,660 
			 Calderdale 2,490 2,750 2,940 
			 Pre LGR Cambridgeshire
			 Cambridgeshire 2,350 2,560 2,720 
			 Camden 3,610 3,950 4,120 
			 Pre LGR Cheshire
			 Cheshire 2,340 2,540 2,640 
			 City of Bristol 2,510 2,720 2,860 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 2,670 2,930 2,990 
			 City of London 4,780 5,250 4,990 
			 City of Nottingham 2,930 3,260 3,410 
			 City of Peterborough 2,530 2,740 2,890 
			 City of Plymouth 2,430 2,610 2,800 
			 Cornwall 2,440 2,640 2,810 
			 Coventry 2,630 2,870 3,010 
			 Croydon 2,710 2,890 3,060 
			 Cumbria 2,560 2,740 2,870 
			 Darlington 2,380 2,640 2,710 
			 Derby 2,430 2,730 2,940 
			 Derbyshire 2,350 2,480 2,630 
			 Pre LGR Devon
			 Devon 2,370 2,620 2,790 
			 Doncaster 2,530 2,720 2,860 
			 Dorset 2,340 2,610 2,790 
			 Dudley 2,310 2,620 2,760 
			 Durham 2,590 2,810 3,000 
			 Ealing 2,830 3,210 3,330 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,430 2,580 2,760 
			 East Sussex 2,460 2,660 2,830 
			 Enfield 2,730 3,090 3,270 
			 Pre LGR Essex
			 Essex 2,570 2,750 2,900 
			 Gateshead 2,470 2,680 2,850 
			 Gloucestershire 2,310 2,620 2,720 
			 Greenwich 3,080 3,280 3,530 
			 Hackney 3,280 3,810 4,010 
			 Halton 2,580 2,740 2,910 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,260 3,600 3,800 
			 Hampshire 2,480 2,690 2,850 
			 Haringey 3,110 3,440 3,590 
			 Harrow 2,720 2,950 3,100 
			 Hartlepool 2,430 2,660 2,840 
			 Havering 2,490 2,730 2,920 
			 Hereford and Worcester
			 Herefordshire 2,410 2,600 2,780 
			 Hertfordshire 2,420 2,630 2,780 
			 Hillingdon 2,480 2,710 2,920 
			 Hounslow 2,840 3,060 3,160 
			 Isle of Wight 2,690 2,840 3,000 
			 Isles of Scilly 8,030 6,620 7,280 
			 Islington 3,150 3,590 3,760 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 3,550 3,990 4,160 
			 Pre LGR Kent
			 Kent 2,400 2,630 2,770 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 2,600 2,950 3,110 
			 Kirklees 2,580 2,850 3,060 
			 Knowsley 2,620 2,850 3,010 
			 Lambeth 3,520 3,880 4,110 
			 Pre LGR Lancashire
			 Lancashire 2,520 2,780 2,900 
			 Leeds 2,610 2,840 3,010 
			 Leicester city 2,520 2,760 2,990 
			 Leicestershire 2,190 2,420 2,580 
			 Lewisham 3,230 3,590 3,800 
			 Lincolnshire 2,260 2,450 2,600 
			 Liverpool 2,720 2,970 3,100 
			 Luton 2,660 2,910 3,100 
			 Manchester 2,740 2,930 3,030 
			 Medway 2,560 2,830 3,050 
			 Merton 2,890 3,100 3,200 
			 Middlesbrough 2,530 2,790 2,980 
			 Milton Keynes 2,340 2,630 2,760 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,470 2,670 2,840 
			 Newham 2,880 3,270 3,630 
			 Norfolk 2,500 2,660 2,770 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,570 2,730 2,920 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,480 2,670 2,840 
			 North Somerset 2,270 2,490 2,650 
			 North Tyneside 2,410 2,590 2,760 
			 North Yorkshire 2,470 2,710 2,890 
			 Northamptonshire 2,280 2,600 2,720 
			 Northumberland 2,470 2,720 2,940 
			 Pre LGR Nottinghamshire
			 Nottinghamshire 2,500 2,740 2,900 
			 0ldham 2,430 2,600 2,740 
			 0xfordshire 2,460 2,690 2,790 
			 Poole 2,430 2,530 2,620 
			 Portsmouth 2,780 2,950 3,070 
			 Reading 2,430 2,640 2,730 
			 Redbridge 2,500 2,700 2,830 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 2,490 2,780 2,940 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 2,650 2,900 3,030 
			 Rochdale 2,370 2,760 2,910 
			 Rotherham 2,380 2,600 2,820 
			 Rutland 2,540 2,840 2,950 
			 Salford 2,480 2,830 2,920 
			 Sandwell 2,530 2,760 3,010 
			 Sefton 2,530 2,830 2,980 
			 Sheffield 2,430 2,620 2,780 
			 Pre LGR Shropshire
			 Shropshire 2,330 2,560 2,600 
			 Slough 2,630 2,810 2,990 
			 Solihull 2,260 2,460 2,580 
			 Somerset 2,430 2,610 2,810 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,330 2,460 2,610 
			 South Tyneside 2,540 2,820 2,970 
			 Southampton 2,640 2,940 3,170 
			 Southend 2,590 2,730 2,860 
			 Southwark 3,470 3,660 3,970 
			 St Helens 2,500 2,590 2,790 
			 Staffordshire 2,280 2,490 2,620 
			 Stockport 2,260 2,460 2,720 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 2,430 2,610 2,810 
			 Stoke 2,320 2,640 2,730 
			 Suffolk 2,520 2,740 2,920 
			 Sunderland 2,470 2,660 2,840 
			 Surrey 2,490 2,640 2,790 
			 Sutton 2,470 2,640 2,870 
			 Swindon 2,240 2,440 2,630 
			 Tameside 2,480 2,610 2,750 
			 Telford and Wrekin 2,290 2,430 2,660 
			 Thurrock 2,680 2,810 2,940 
			 Torbay 2,370 2,580 2,730 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,850 4,150 4,300 
			 Trafford 2,250 2,390 2,500 
			 Wakefield 2,480 2,690 2,810 
			 Walsall 2,430 2,610 2,770 
			 Waltham Forest 2,910 3,230 3,390 
			 Wandsworth 3,170 3,470 3,630 
			 Warrington 2,270 2,510 2,630 
			 Warwickshire 2,390 2,560 2,670 
			 West Berkshire 2,500 2,680 2,840 
			 West Sussex 2,430 2,610 2,780 
			 Westminster 3,430 3,620 3,800 
			 Wigan 2,400 2,620 2,780 
			 Wiltshire 2,340 2,550 2,670 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,550 2,710 2,870 
			 Wirral 2,520 2,640 2,730 
			 Wokingham 2,340 2,550 2,650 
			 Wolverhampton 2,430 2,580 2,810 
			 Worcestershire 2,330 2,540 2,740 
			 York 2,390 2,560 2,680 
		
	
	(69)School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure.
	(70)19992000 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 form collected by the 0DPM to the Section 52 form from the DfES. 200203 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the outturn tables. The change in sources is shown by an asterisk. In 200203 school based expenditure is taken from Section 52 Outturn TableA line 51 net current expenditure (NCE). For 200102 and earlier years the expenditure is calculated as lines one to 12 less lines 29, 30, 35 and 37. This differs from the old Net Institutional Expenditure (NIE) calculation only in the treatment of meals and milk which is no longer excluded and no adjustments for balances are now made. This is taken from Section 52 0utturn Table 3 for 19992000 to 200102 and from the RO1 form previously.
	(71)The calculation for 200203 onwards is broadly similar to the calculation in previous years. However, 200102 and earlier years includes all premature retirement compensation (PRC) and Crombie payments, mandatory PRC payments and other indirect employee expenses. In 200102 this accounted for approximately 70 per pupil. From 200203 onwards only the schools element of these categories is included and this accounted for approximately 50 per pupil of the 200203 total. Also, for some LAs, expenditure that had previously been attributed to the school sectors was reported within the LA part of the form from 200203, though this is not quantifiable from existing sources.
	(72)Pupil numbers include only those pupils attending maintained establishments within each sector and are drawn from the DfES Annual Schools Census adjusted to be on a financial year basis.
	(73)Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990s and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR are represented by '' for those years.
	(74)Spending in 199798 reflects the transfer of monies from local government to central Government for the nursery vouchers scheme. These were returned to local government from 199899.
	(75)The 19992000 figures reflect the return of GM schools to local authority maintenance. Consequently LAs where there entire pupil provision were educated in GM schools will show a unit cost of zero prior to 19992000.
	(76)Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of Section 52 for financial year 19992000.
	Note:
	Figures are as reported by the LEA in cash terms and rounded to the nearest 10.

Class Sizes

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average class size was in primary schools in each local education authority in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The information requested has been placed in the House Library.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when she will reply to the letter dated 30 November 2005 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, with regard to Mr.A. Diamond.

Jacqui Smith: I replied to the right hon. Member's letter on 9 January.

Dedicated Schools Grant

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the purpose is of the Dedicated Schools Grant; how much will be spent on this in each of the next three years; how much will be received by each local authority; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The data I placed in the Library to accompany my written statement of 7 December 2005 on the School Funding Settlement for 200607 and 200708, set out how much Dedicated Schools Grant each authority will receive for those years. Allocations of DSG for 200809 will be announced after the comprehensive spending review has been completed, expected to be in summer 2007.

Dedicated Schools Grant

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to improve the consistency of the allocation of the Dedicated Schools Grant across all local education authorities.

Jacqui Smith: My statement to the House on 7 December said that Dedicated Schools Grant for 200607 and 200708 would be distributed according to the modified method, in which each authority receives a guaranteed increase in funding per pupil of 5 per cent. with further funding to reflect Government priorities on top of that. The decision to use the modified method was taken after a consultation over the summer, and will provide stability of funding for the next two years, as the new school funding arrangements are introduced. This method of distribution for DSG will also provide substantial real terms increases for all authorities for 200607 and 200708. We also propose to review the operation of the methodology for allocating DSG for 200607 and 200708, consider what lessons can be learnt and work up proposals for the distribution of the DSG in the longer term, in time for the announcement of the first three year allocations of DSG in late 2007 following the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Dedicated Schools Grant

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the direct schools grant per pupil is in (a) Shropshire and (b) England; and what assessment she has made of the adequacy of Shropshire local education authority's direct schools grant.

Jacqui Smith: The following table sets out the guaranteed level of Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) per pupil for Shropshire and England for 200607 and 200708.
	
		Dedicated Schools Grant per pupil -- 
		
			  200607 200708 
		
		
			 Shropshire 3,338.62 3,550.86 
			 England 3,642.98 3,888.20 
		
	
	The levels in the table represent increases of 6.6 per cent. and 6.4 per cent. per pupil for 200607 and 200708 respectively. Those increases will allow Shropshire authority to meet the minimum funding guarantee for all its schools, while also allowing it to put substantial resources into the Government priorities of greater personalisation of learning at Key Stage 2 and 3, more practical learning options for 14 to 16-year-old pupils, work force reform in the primary sector and the increased entitlement to early years provision from 33 to 38 weeks. The increases will also provide the authority with headroom to target on local priorities, and will ensure that it has scope to begin to respond to the conclusions of the review of deprivation funding, ensuring that schools in our most deprived communities and areas benefit from sufficient resource to meet the pressures and challenges they face.

Departmental Forms

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the change in the number of forms issued by her Department to teachers since 2002;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the changes in the attitude of the teaching profession to the amount of forms issued to teachers since 2002.

Jacqui Smith: Reducing bureaucracy is a key element of the New Relationship with Schools which aims to streamline planning and accountability requirements and rationalise communications with schools. The Department does not separately track the number of forms which are sent to schools, but we do monitor the number of paper-based documents sent directly to schools. The figures are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Primary schools Secondary schools 
		
		
			 200203 43 47 
			 200304 31 38 
			 200405 0 0 
		
	
	This year no paper-based documents have been sent to schools due to the national roll-out of the Department's online ordering system, and fortnightly email service which draws head teachers attention to key publications. These developments make it easier for schools to access the documents they need at a time and in a format which is right for them.
	The Department's Stakeholder Tracking Study which took place from 200204 includes an assessment of attitudes of the teaching profession to levels of bureaucracy. This shows that our approach is beginning to pay dividends. In November 2004 10 per cent. of teachers thought that bureaucracy had reduced, compared to just 4 per cent. in November 2002. The percentage who thought bureaucracy had increased dropped from 71 per cent. to 56 per cent. over the same time period. The study has been published on the Departments website and is available at: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/index.cfm? type=5x=47y=14

Drinking Water

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 14 December 2005, Official Report, column 2074W, on drinking water, whether she plans to issue guidance to schools on drinking water provision in relation to the aims of her healthy schools policy.

Jacqui Smith: In order to keep properly hydrated throughout the day, children need access to water at school. The promotion of good hydration is included within the Government's Food in Schools programme (www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAnd SocialCareTopics/FoodInSchools), which supports the National Healthy Schools Standard (www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk). It advises that good quality drinking water should be available to pupils throughout the day and not from taps or drinking fountains located in toilet areas (http://foodinschools.datacenta.uk.net).

Drop-out Rates

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which 10 (a) further and (b) higher education institutions had the (i) highest and (ii) lowest drop-out rate in the last period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: For higher education institutions, the latest available information on projected non-completion rates for students starting full-time first degree courses in 2002/03 is shown in the following table. The overall non-completion rate for all English HE institutions was 13.9 per cent., compared to 15.7 per cent. in 1996/97.
	
		Percentage of UK domiciled full-time first degree students expected neither to obtain an award nor transfer 2002/03
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Highest non-completion rates:  
			 Bolton Institute of Higher Education 31.9 
			 The University of Derby 27.0 
			 The University of Sunderland 26.8 
			 The University of East London 26.0 
			 London South Bank University 25.6 
			 Middlesex University 25.1 
			 Thames Valley University 25.0 
			 The University of Greenwich 25.0 
			 London Metropolitan University 24.7 
			 Liverpool Hope University College 23.6 
			   
			 Lowest non-completion rates:  
			 Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and  Creative Studies 0.0 
			 University of London (institutes and activities) 0.0 
			 The Royal Veterinary College 0.0 
			 The University of Cambridge 1.0 
			 Courtauld Institute of Art 1.3 
			 The University of Oxford 2.3 
			 Royal College of Music 2.7 
			 University of Durham 3.7 
			 Imperial College of Science, Technology and  Medicine 3.7 
			 The University of Bath 3.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Performance Indicators in Higher Education, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). For 2002/03, the projected outcomes summarise the pattern of movements of students at institutions between 2002/03 and 2003/04 and give the outcomes that would have been expected from starters in 2002/03 if progression patterns for the years after 2003/04 were to remain unchanged. The published HESA data show the proportion of entrants who are projected to: obtain a qualification (either a first degree or another undergraduate award); transfer to another HEI; neither obtain a qualification nor transfer (i.e. fail to complete the course).
	The Learning and Skills Council does not collect data on drop out rates from FE colleges. Instead they collect data on learner retention rates. The learner retention rate is the proportion of qualification aims for which all learning activities were completed. Retention rates for individual colleges can be downloaded from the LSC website (http://benchmarkingdata.lsc.gov.uk/year8/index.cfm)
	The overall learner retention rate for all FE colleges combined was 85 per cent. in 20003/04, the latest year for which final data are available. For the middle 80 per cent. of colleges the retention rate lay in the range 78 per cent. to 91 per cent.
	The 10 colleges with the highest retention rates were:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Northern College for Residential Adult Education 99 
			 Plater College 97 
			 Fircroft College of Adult Education 97 
			 Ruskin College 97 
			 King Edward VI College, Stourbridge 96 
			 Hills Road Sixth Form College 96 
			 Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College 96 
			 St Dominic's Sixth Form College 96 
			 The Sixth Form College, Farnborough 95 
			 Pershore Group of Colleges 95 
		
	
	The 10 colleges with the lowest retention rates were:
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 Salisbury College 61 
			 Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture 62 
			 North East Surrey College of Technology 67 
			 Widnes and Runcorn Sixth Form College 69 
			 Newark and Sherwood College 70 
			 Milton Keynes College 72 
			 Leeds College of Music 72 
			 Isle College FE Corporation 72 
			 Thames Valley University 72 
			 Joseph Priestley College 73 
		
	
	Retention rates are highly dependent on the mix of qualifications done at a college. A college that does few short courses and many full courses is likely to get a relatively low retention rate, simply because the national retention rate for short courses is relatively high and the national retention rate for full courses is relatively low.
	FE College retention rates and HE institution non-completion rates are collected in different ways and are not comparable.

Dyslexia

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills at what age children can be tested for dyslexia; and what types of test are available.

Maria Eagle: There is no set age at which children can or should be tested for dyslexia. Being a spectrum disorder, dyslexia can present a range of characteristics that can vary considerably from person to person. It is therefore uncertain that universal screening to test for dyslexia, particularly in the early years, would prove sufficiently discriminating to pick out those children most at risk of persisting difficulties.
	Schools and local authorities must have regard to the SEN code of practice, which gives practical advice on carrying out statutory duties to identify, assess and make suitable provision for children with SEN, including with dyslexia. The precise arrangements for any screening or assessment are, however, for local determination.
	Through our primary national strategy, we have issued guidance for teachers, which has a specific focus on dyslexia. Professional development materials, Learning and teaching for children with dyslexia, include a checklist of early indicators for potential dyslexia. Playing with sounds, deals with the early teaching of phonics and includes guidance on early identification and support for children who demonstrate the phonological difficulties often associated with dyslexia.

Dyslexia

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many children who were removed or excluded from their school because of behavioural problems were (a) dyslexic and (b) subsequently diagnosed as dyslexic in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is not collected centrally. However the number of pupils permanently excluded with all types of special educational needs is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools (77)(5508670078)number of permanent exclusions by special educational needs (SEN)England, 2003/04 (Estimates) (79)
		
			  Permanent exclusions Fixed period exclusions 
			  Number of exclusions Percentage of exclusions(80) Percentage of school population(81) Number of exclusions Percentage of exclusions(80) Percentage of school population(81) 
		
		
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,040 11 0.44 39,790 12 17.1 
			 Pupils with SEN without statements 5,240 53 0.46 133,290 39 11.7 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,600 36 0.06 171,420 50 2.7 
			 All pupils (82) 9,880 100 0.13 344,510 100 4.5 
		
	
	(77) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(78) For permanent exclusions includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools. For fixed period exclusions excludes non-maintained special schools.
	(79) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil level data.
	(80) The number of exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of exclusions.
	(81) The number of exclusions by stage of SEN expressed as a percentage of the total number of pupils with same stage of SEN. Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(82) There was one permanent exclusion and 12 fixed period exclusions for which stage of SEN was not knownthese were included in total for 'all pupils' only.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

Education Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the average total cost of Government education spending between the ages of 0 and 21 for a child from (a) the highest and (b) the lowest (i) income decile and (ii) socio-economic class; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Estimates are not available on the average total cost of Government education spending between the ages of 0 and 21 by each parental income decile and each socio-economic class.

Education Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of the distribution of total education spending between pupils from (a) each income decile of parents, (b) each income quintile of parents and (c) each socio-economic group of parents; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Estimates of the distribution of total education spending on pupils by parental income decile, income quintile and socio-economic group are not available. Public education spending is not collated by parental background. Figures on private spending on education are not collated by the Department.
	There are likely to be some differences in both public and private spending on education for pupils from different family backgrounds. Such differences will be influenced by, for example, Government education policies targeted at those from poorer backgrounds (such as the education maintenance allowance and targeted student support for higher education), how parental income affects private spending; and differences in post-16 education choices.

Education Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what her latest estimate is of per capita public spending on education for each age cohort in England from age three to age 21 years; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: Data on education spending are not collated by age or cohort. The latest and nearest available estimates relate to annual unit funding in each education sectorschools, FE and HEpublished in the DfES' Departmental Report for 2005 (Cm 6522). The following table provides estimates of planned unit funding in 200506 per school pupil and full-time equivalent (FTE) students in further and higher education: figures in cash terms rounded to nearest 10.
	
		Planned funding per school pupil and FTE student in FE and HE, 200506
		
			  
			  200506 
		
		
			 Funding per school pupil (ages three to 19) 4,250(83) 
			 Assumed(84) funding per FTE student in FE for participation (excluding capital costs) 4,840(85) 
			 Funding per planned FTE student in HE 4,610(86) 
		
	
	(83) Figure does not include capital and PFI funding. Estimate consistent with Education Standard Spending/Education Funding Formula Spending plus all schools-related revenue grants. Pension transfers are included. Based on FTEs aged three to 19 in maintained schools in England, including three-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational establishments.
	(84) This is an assumed estimate as it is based on assumptions about how much of the total amount of money going to the Learning and Skills Council is spent on further education.
	(85) Figure relates to all FE spending, including for adult participants. Full-time equivalent (FTE) students funded by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) in either further education sector colleges or in external institutions, specialist designated institutions, dance and drama institutions and higher education institutions.
	(86) Funding relates to all DfES revenue grants to support HE in HE institutions and FE colleges in England and excludes expenditure on tuition fees and student maintenance costs. Figure based on planned.

Education Funding (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the effect of the level of direct support grant allocated to Shropshire's schools on their ability to remain within their budget for 200405.

Jacqui Smith: The new Dedicated Schools Grant will not be introduced until April 2006 but under the current revenue funding system for schools, Shropshire received 3,780 per pupil in 200405. This figure includes funding via Education Formula Spending Share and revenue grants allocated at an LEA level.
	At the end of the financial year 200405, the data indicate that the deficit balances held by maintained schools in Shropshire amounted in total to approximately 677,675 and that total surplus balances totalled approximately 5,554,614; these figures are derived from the outturn statements prepared by local education authorities under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998.

Education White Paper

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many representations her Department has received (a) in favour of and (b) opposed to the proposals in the recent White Paper on Schools.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has received at least 211 representations from a wide range of organisations, Members of Parliament and members of the public which directly refer to the White Paper. These representations contain a variety of opinions both supporting certain proposals within the context of the White Paper and opposing elements of it.

Enterprise and Entrepreneurism Training

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to expand the teaching of enterprise and entrepreneurism in schools in Hartlepool; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The Department has allocated 60 million a year for the three academic years from September 2005 to support a new focus on enterprise education in all secondary schools in England. St. Hild's Church of England School in Hartlepool was among the 700 schools which participated in our Enterprise Education Pathfinder programme that looked at various ways of delivering enterprise education and helped to produce our national guidance on enterprise education. The Guidance is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/enterpriseeducation to support other schools in developing and improving their own practice.
	In addition, statutory Citizenship education in secondary schools and the non-statutory framework for Personal, Social and Health Education also provide opportunities to develop pupils' enterprise capabilityincluding personal financial capability as well as business understanding, innovation, creativity, risk-management and risk-taking.

First Aid

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what level of basic instruction in first aid is required to be given to pupils in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: There is scope in the Personal Social and Health Education framework for schools to explore safety and emergency procedures as part of the curriculum. At Key Stages 2 and 3, the framework suggests pupils should be taught basic emergency aid procedures and where to get help and support. At Key Stage 4 pupils should be taught to develop skills to cope with emergency situations that require basic aid procedures, including resuscitation techniques.

Examinations (Cheating)

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  if she will list cases in the last three years in which the (a) regulatory authorities and (b) qualification awarding bodies have determined there was malpractice, cheating or assisting in cheating in examinations or coursework leading to a qualification; which educational establishment was involved in each case; and what sanction was applied in each case;
	(2)  if she will list the educational establishments adjudged to have been complicit in cheating or assisting in cheating in examinations or coursework leading to a qualification in the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, regulator for qualifications in England, published for the first time in March 2005 total figures for the number of GCSE and A level confirmed malpractice cases dealt with by AQA, Edexcel, and OCR during the summer 2004 exams series. These figures are as follows:
	
		
			  Candidate malpractice cases 
		
		
			 AQA 1,608 
			 Edexcel 847 
			 OCR 1,118 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures are for the number of cases of candidate malpractice rather than the number of candidates.
	The QCA are intending to publish in late March 2006, similar data at a greater level of detail, broken down by category of offence, for the summer 2005 exams series. Those figures are still being verified.
	Further details of the cases set out aforementioned are not readily available and could be obtained from the awarding bodies only at disproportionate cost.

Foundation Schools

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2736W, on foundation schools, when she expects this analysis to be completed.

Jacqui Smith: My Department is continuing its analysis of this issue. We will publish our findings as soon as the work is complete.

Foundation Schools

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many applications were made for foundation school status in each year since September 1999; and how many of these applications were granted.

Jacqui Smith: The governing body of a school wishing to change category to foundation must consult and publish statutory proposals. Since August 2005, the governing bodies of community and voluntary controlled secondary schools have been able to decide their own proposals to change category to foundation. Otherwise, proposals are decided by the School Organisation Committee or Schools Adjudicator.
	The following table sets out the numbers of statutory proposals published to change the category of existing schools to foundation, together with the decisions, since 2001.
	
		
			  Primary Secondary 
			 Publication year Approved Rejected Awaiting Decision Approved Rejected Awaiting Decision Total 
		
		
			 2001 6 1  9   16 
			 2002 4   7 1  12 
			 2003 3   3   6 
			 2004 1   2 1  4 
			 2005 1   6  4 11 
			 2006  2 2 
			 Totals 15 1  27 2 6 51 
		
	
	Following the introduction of the new schools framework in September 1999, schools were prohibited from publishing proposals to change category for one year (except where the governing body of a voluntary aided school were unable to meet their financial obligations). No proposals were published in 2000 after the end of this embargo.

Foundation Schools

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools had foundation school status in each year since 1999.

Jacqui Smith: The following table details the numbers of primary and secondary foundation schools each year since 1999:
	
		
			  Primary Secondary Total 
		
		
			 1999 359 500 859 
			 2000 359 500 859 
			 2001 357 497 854 
			 2002 362 501 863 
			 2003 365 510 875 
			 2004 364 514 878 
			 2005 366 513 879 
		
	
	The 1999 figures reflect the position at 1 September 1999 following the introduction of the new schools framework, and subsequent figures have been derived from annual schools census returns made by schools to the Department in January each year.

Free School Meals

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils in each school in Bristol, East constituency receive free school meals.

Jacqui Smith: Two sets of figures relating to the number and proportion of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals are given here. The first includes all pupils in the school, regardless of their age. The second includes full-time pupils aged up to (and including) 15 and part-time pupils aged 5 to 15 (inclusive). This second coverage is as used in the Pupil Achievement Tracker and Ofsted's PANDA reports and provides consistent school level comparisons.
	
		Maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools, pupil referral units and academies:school meal arrangementsas at January 2005, Bristol, East parliamentary constituency
		
			All pupils(87) 
			UIN   Establishment numberEstablishment name   Number on roll Number of pupils taking free school meals(89)  Percentage of pupils taking free school meals Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 108893 1002 St. Philips Marsh Nursery School 123 7 5.7 7 5.7 
			 108898 1007 Rosemary Nursery School 58 23 39.7 26 44.8 
			 108903 1013 Spring Woods Nursery School 65 18 27.7 20 30.8 
			 108904 1014 Redcliffe Early Years Centre 71 12 16.9 17 23.9 
			 108905 1015 The Limes Nursery School 112 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			 108907 1017 Cashmore Nursery School 33 9 27.3 12 36.4 
			 133160 1102 St. Matthias Park Pupil Referral Service 33 8 24.2 13 39.4 
			 108909 2000 Air Balloon Hill Junior School 344 47 13.7 71 20.6 
			 108915 2009 Bannerman Road Primary School 285 122 42.8 146 51.2 
			 131500 2017 Waycroft Primary School 456 26 5.7 37 8.1 
			 108919 2018 Broomhill Junior School 227 30 13.2 30 13.2 
			 108955 2068 St. Anne's Junior School 156 20 12.8 25 16.0 
			 108956 2069 St. Anne's Infant School 203 19 9.4 20 9.9 
			 108957 2070 St. Anne's Park Primary School 147 48 32.7 58 39.5 
			 108965 2080 Summerhill Junior School 340 43 12.6 69 20.3 
			 108966 2081 Summerhill Infant School 257 38 14.6 59 23.0 
			 108967 2083 Two Mile Hill Junior School 282 33 11.7 48 17.0 
			 108968 2084 Two Mile Hill Infant School 167 19 10.2 23 12.3 
			 108974 2097 Holymead Junior School 335 31 9.3 38 11.3 
			 108975 2098 Holymead Infant School 247 17 6.9 17 6.9 
			 108978 2103 West Town Lane Junior School 238 21 8.8 27 11.3 
			 108979 2104 West Town Lane Infant School 177 9 5.1 12 6.6 
			 108983 2115 Broomhill Infant School 217 20 9.2 27 12.4 
			 108985 2124 Burnbush Primary School 168 31 18.5 33 19.6 
			 108993 2142 Stockwood Green Primary School 92 19 20.7 19 20.7 
			 108994 2143 Air Balloon Hill Infant School 253 36 14.2 44 17.4 
			 108995 2145 Barton Hill Primary School 176 89 50.6 112 63.6 
			 109110 2299 Hannah More Primary School 161 85 52.6 102 63.4 
			 109131 2327 May Park Primary School 413 96 23.2 149 36.1 
			 109132 2328 Whitehall Primary School 463 107 23.1 158 34.1 
			 109137 2336 Millpond Primary School 206 106 51.5 111 53.9 
			 131993 2342 Barton Hill Nursery and Infant School 114 44 38.6 55 48.2 
			 131525 3301 Easton Church of England Primary School 346 176 50.9 206 59.5 
			 109248 3408 St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School 149 53 35.6 59 39.6 
			 109250 3411 St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School 202 16 7.9 17 8.4 
			 109280 4032 Brislington Enterprise College 1,391 178 12.8 201 14.5 
			 109287 4045 Whitefield Fishponds Community School 938 167 17.8 201 21.4 
			 109327 4603 St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School 1,365 42 3.1 48 3.5 
			 134221 6905 The City Academy Bristol 1,095 388 35.4 409 37.4 
		
	
	
		
			Pupil Achievement Tracker(88) 
			   Establishment number   Establishment name  Number of pupils Number of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals Percentage of pupils known to be eligible for free school meals 
		
		
			 108893 1002 St. Philips Marsh Nursery School 58 7 12.1 
			 108898 1007 Rosemary Nursery School 39 24 61.5 
			 108903 1013 Spring Woods Nursery School 43 20 46.5 
			 108904 1014 Redcliffe Early Years Centre 39 17 43.6 
			 108905 1015 The Limes Nursery School n/a n/a n/a 
			 108907 1017 Cashmore Nursery School 24 12 50.0 
			 133160 1102 St. Matthias Park Pupil Referral Service 33 13 39.4 
			 108909 2000 Air Balloon Hill Junior School 344 71 20.6 
			 108915 2009 Bannerman Road Primary School 285 146 51.2 
			 131500 2017 Waycroft Primary School 356 34 9.6 
			 108919 2018 Broomhill Junior School 227 30 13.2 
			 108955 2068 St. Anne's Junior School 156 25 16.0 
			 108956 2069 St. Anne's Infant School 165 20 12.1 
			 108957 2070 St. Anne's Park Primary School 135 58 43.0 
			 108965 2080 Summerhill Junior School 340 69 20.3 
			 108966 2081 Summerhill Infant School 257 59 23.0 
			 108967 2083 Two Mile Hill Junior School 282 48 17.0 
			 108968 2084 Two Mile Hill Infant School 187 23 12.3 
			 108974 2097 Holymead Junior School 335 38 11.3 
			 108975 2098 Holymead Infant School 247 17 6.9 
			 108978 2103 West Town Lane Junior School 238 27 11.3 
			 108979 2104 West Town Lane Infant School 177 12 6.8 
			 108983 2115 Broomhill Infant School 167 27 16.2 
			 108985 2124 Burnbush Primary School 157 32 20.4 
			 108993 2142 Stockwood Green Primary School 92 19 20.7 
			 108994 2143 Air Balloon Hill Infant School 253 44 17.4 
			 108995 2145 Barton Hill Primary School 176 112 63.6 
			 109110 2299 Hannah More Primary School 161 102 63.4 
			 109131 2327 May Park Primary School 393 147 37.4 
			 109132 2328 Whitehall Primary School 463 158 34.1 
			 109137 2336 Millpond Primary School 206 111 53.9 
			 131993 2342 Barton Hill Nursery and Infant School 107 55 51.4 
			 131525 3301 Easton Church of England Primary School 346 206 59.5 
			 109248 3408 St. Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Primary School 149 59 39.6 
			 109250 3411 St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School 202 17 8.4 
			 109280 4032 Brislington Enterprise College 1,283 194 15.1 
			 109287 4045 Whitefield Fishponds Community School 936 200 21.4 
			 109327 4603 St. Mary Redcliffe and Temple School 1,021 46 4.5 
			 134221 6905 The City Academy Bristol 906 373 41.2 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	1 Includes pupils with sole and dual registration of all ages.
	(87) Includes pupils with sole and dual registration who are full-time and aged 0 to 15 (inclusive) and those who are part-time and aged 5 to 15 (inclusive).
	(88) Number of pupils who took a free school meal on the day of the census in January.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Free School Milk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schoolchildren who would qualify for free school milk if they lived in a local authority area which participates in the School Milk Subsidy Scheme do not receive free school milk.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Fruit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries have been caused in schools by fruit in each of the last 10 years.

Jacqui Smith: The Government do not collect such data.

Good Practice

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 October 2005, Official Report, column 1778W, on good practice, what information she has received from Ofsted on the extent to which faith schools have adopted the good practice published on www.teachernet.gov.uk/faithschools; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the adoption of the good practice on outcomes in terms of educational achievement.

Jacqui Smith: Ofsted do not assess the extent to which faith schools have adopted the good practice published on www.teachernet.gov.uk/faith schools. It is not part of the inspection framework. Our primary aim in publishing the examples of good practice is to show faith schools ways in which they can be inclusive and contribute to community cohesion. We have not made any assessment of the impact on pupils' achievement in those faith schools that have adopted the good practice.

Graduate Tax

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the merits of a graduate tax.

Bill Rammell: The issue of a graduate tax was discussed in a departmental paper of 8 December 2003, prior to the debates on the Higher Education Bill in 2004 when the Government legislated to introduce variable fees rather than a graduate tax. The main reasons were because variable fees provide a guaranteed source of additional income for HE institutions independent of Government; and generate a higher level of revenue for universities with lower short and medium term public expenditure implications. Graduates will also know exactly what their higher education will cost them at the outset. We have made no further assessment since then. The paper is available on our website at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/hegateway/hereform/whitepaperconsultation/index.cfm

Greenhouse Gases

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps her Department is taking to reduce its emission of greenhouse gases.

Maria Eagle: The Department is taking the following steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
	An internal review of energy usage and procedures to manage the estate is under way.
	We have registered with the Carbon Trust who have confirmed we have qualified for an energy audit on three of our five headquarters buildings and to receive advice on a full carbon management programme.

Home Education

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents (a) in England, (b) in each region and (c) in each local education authority are educating their children at home.

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many parents in Tamworth constituency are educating their children at home.

Jacqui Smith: Parents may exercise their right to educate their children at home on a temporary or permanent basis. We do not collect information about the numbers of children whose parents provide education at home, and it would be impractical to do so given the transient nature of some of this type of provision.

Indoor Airborne Chemicals

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to issue guidelines to schools on acceptable (a) levels and (b) maximum concentrations of indoor airborne chemicals for children aged 4 to 11 years.

Jacqui Smith: DfES will shortly be issuing a new Building Bulletin 101, Ventilation of School Buildings, see www.teachernet.gov.uk/iaq. This document will give the standards on ventilation for new school buildings for compliance with Approved Document F on Ventilation of the Building Regulations. Its performance standards are based on maximum concentrations of a number of pollutants including relative humidity, carbon monoxide, total volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide and ozone and relate these back to a maximum carbon dioxide concentration and minimum ventilation rate. The new standards will come into force on 1 April 2006 at the same time as the new Approved Document F of the Building Regulations. The new standards are broadly in line with the requirements for minimum ventilation rates for all schools which are laid down in the Education (School Premises) Regulations SI No.2 1999, (http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1999/19990002.htm)

Indoor Airborne Chemicals

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to educate primary school teachers about the possible risks of indoor airborne chemicals.

Jacqui Smith: Qualifying to teach sets out the professional standards for qualified teachers. All primary teachers are trained to teach science. The standards include planning and delivering lessons that are safe (Standard 3.1.3 and 3.3.8) and working within the legal and other frameworks that apply to teachers (Standard 1.8). These frameworks include health and safety legislation and advice.

List 99

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which categories of (a) ban and (b) partial ban from working in schools can be applied to people included on List 99;
	(2)  what categories of (a) ban and (b) partial ban from working in schools can be applied to people included on List 99.

Ruth Kelly: My statement, and the accompanying report, of 19 January set out clearly the Government's analysis of, and response to, issues concerning child protection and List 99, together with the action we are currently taking.

Ministerial Meetings

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what arrangements she has for regular meetings with the Education Minister in the National Assembly for Wales to discuss education issues and share best practice.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Education and Skills continues to work closely with colleagues in each of the devolved Administrations. We are committed to the principle of good communication with each other, in accordance with the Devolution Memorandum of Understanding.

National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many members of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth there are in each maintained secondary school in (a) North East Lincolnshire and (b) North Lincolnshire.

Jacqui Smith: This information is shown in the following table. Membership of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY) is available to pupils aged 1119 in the top 5 per cent. nationally.
	
		
			 School name NAGTY Members 
		
		
			 North East Lincolnshire  
			 Havelock School 0 
			 Healing School 0 
			 Hereford Technology School 46 
			 Humberston Comprehensive School 0 
			 Matthew Humberstone Church of England School 34 
			 St. Mary's Catholic School 0 
			 The Immingham School 0 
			 The Lindsey School and Community Arts College 0 
			 The Western Technology School 0 
			 Tollbar Business and Enterprise College 0 
			 Whitgift School 26 
			 Total NAGTY Membership 106 
			   
			 North Lincolnshire  
			 Baysgarth School 22 
			 Brumby Engineering College 32 
			 Foxhills Technology College 1 
			 Frederick Gough School 34 
			 High Ridge School 5 
			 Huntcliff School 32 
			 North Axholme School 1 
			 Sir John Nelthorpe School 1 
			 South Axholme Community School 12 
			 South Leys Business and Enterprise College 0 
			 St. Bede's Catholic School 56 
			 Thomas Sumpter School 0 
			 Vale of Ancholme Technology College 51 
			 Winterton Comprehensive School 0 
			 Total NAGTY Membership 247 
			   
			 Total NAGTY Membership for North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire 353

Neighbourhood Nurseries

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many (a) full-time and (b) part-time places were available at neighbourhood nurseries in each year for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many neighbourhood nurseries have been established in disadvantaged areas in each year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative was launched in 2001 to create 45,000 new full-time child care and early education places for children aged 0 to five in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged areas in England by March 2004. The full target of 45,000 places in 1,279 neighbourhood nurseries was achieved by August 2004. By the end of 2005, over 49,000 places across over 1,380 neighbourhood nursery projects had been delivered. These places have been developed through a diverse range of local and national providers. Some are 'new-build' neighbourhood nurseries, some have been created in refurbished premises and some by expanding on existing provision in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors. A breakdown of the number of full-time places opened and neighbourhood nurseries established in each year since 2001 is in the following table. Information on the number of part-time places at neighbourhood nurseries is not available.
	
		
			  Number of: 
			  Full-time places created Nurseries established(89) 
		
		
			 2001 190 7 
			 2002 2,495 92 
			 2003 10,886 348 
			 2004 34,231 900 
			 2005 1,296 33 
		
	
	(89) Figures include new build and refurbished premises.

Overseas Trained Teacher Programme

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how many teachers were working in schools under the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme in each year since 199798; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the country of origin is of staff placed under the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 19 January 2006
	The earliest available data for the Overseas Trained Teacher Programme (OTTP) are 2000:
	
		
			  Number of teachers working under the OTTP in England 
		
		
			 2000/01 313 
			 2001/02 791 
			 2002/03 831 
			 2003/04 1,213 
			 2004/05 1,544 
			 2005/06 (90)468 
		
	
	(90) To date.
	Overseas trained teachers are well qualified and greatly valued, making an important contribution to schools in England. The OTTP enables them to acquire Qualified Teacher Status so they can work permanently in English schools.
	A sample of 500 overseas trained teachers on programmes between April and December 2003 showed that 165 (33 per cent.) were from South Africa, 78 (16 per cent.) from Australia, 40 (8 per cent.) from New Zealand and Canada, 26 (5 per cent.) from USA, 25 (5 per cent.) from Jamaica, 23 (5 per cent.) from India. Small numbers (less than 1 per cent.) were from other countries including Ghana (14), Nigeria (9), Kenya (5), Zimbabwe (4), Brazil (3), Sierra Leone (3), Romania (3) and Poland (3). Overall, 435 (87 per cent.) of the sample were from the Commonwealth.

Parenting Fund

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what (a) public, (b) private and (c) voluntary sector organisations have received payments from the Parenting Fund in each year for which figures are available; and how much each sector received.

Beverley Hughes: The Parenting Fund was established to support voluntary and community organisations in supporting parents and families. The fund is administered by the National Family and Parenting Institute which has contracted with PricewaterhouseCoopers to ensure the efficient and effective administration of the fund. The contract with PwC was worth 520,000 for the period 2004 to 2006. The remainder of the Parenting Fund has been allocated wholly to voluntary sector organisations. A list of the organisations benefiting from the fund in the period 2004 to 2006 is as follows:
	ADAPT
	Advisory Centre for Education
	African Community Partnership
	African Families Support Services
	After Adoption
	Alcohol Concern
	Allens Croft Project
	aMAZE
	Ask
	Asperger Norfolk
	Barnardos
	Beyond the Horizon (Spurgeon's Child Care)
	Blackburn with Darwen Education Development Trust
	British Red Cross Family Support Centre
	Broadreach House
	Camden Women's Aid
	Centre for African Development
	Child Action Northwest
	Children North East
	Children's Legal Centre
	Chinese Health Information Centre
	Chrysalis Manchester
	Contact a Family
	ContinYou
	Coram Family
	Croydon Welcare
	Deaf Education through Listening and Talking
	Disabled Parents Network
	Donor Conception Network
	East Lancashire Deaf Society
	Families at Bowthorpe
	Family Group Conference Service
	Family Matters Institute (FMI)
	Family Rights Group
	Family Welfare Association (FWA)
	Fathers Direct
	FPA (Family Planning Association)
	FSU
	FSU Liverpool
	FSU Manchester
	Great Yarmouth Community Trust
	Greenwich Women's Centre
	Groundwork Thames Valley
	Hartcliffe and Withywood Ventures
	Henshaw's Society for Blind People
	Home-Start
	Home-Start Croydon
	Home-Start Leeds
	Home-Start Leicester
	Home-Start Teeside
	Home-Start West Cornwall
	I CAN
	James Wolfe Parents' Association (JWPA)
	KIDS Yorkshire and the Humber
	Lancashire Council of Mosques
	Leeds Animation Workshop
	Leeway Woman's Aid
	Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living
	Life Education Centres West Midlands
	Liverpool ADHD Project
	Mencap
	Mind in Croydon
	NACRO
	National Association of Child Contact Centres
	National Children's Bureau
	National Council of One Parent Families
	National Family and Parenting Institute
	National Library for the Blind
	National Youth Advocacy Service
	NCH
	NCVCCO
	Newcastle upon Tyne YMCA
	Norfolk and Norwich Families' House
	Nottingham Regional Society for Autism
	One Parent Families
	One Plus One
	PACE
	Parentalk
	Parenting Education and Support Forum (Parenting UK)
	Parentline Plus
	Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP)
	Positive Parenting Publications and Programmes
	Positive Steps
	Post-Adoption Centre
	Promoting Effective Parenting
	RainerSlough Youth Support Service
	Refugee Action
	REU
	Sargent Cancer Care for Children
	Scope
	Single Parent Action Network
	SOVA
	Speke Garston Domestic Violence Project
	Stepping Stones
	Sure Start Burton
	The Anaphylaxis Campaign
	The Asian Health Agency
	The Children's Society
	The Family Centre
	The Family Nurturing Network
	The Fostering Network
	The Laura Centre
	The National Childbirth Trust
	The National Deaf Children's Society
	The National Pyramid Trust
	The nia project
	The Parenting Education and Support Forum
	The Place2Be
	The Women's Centre for Blackburn and District
	Trust for the Study of Adolescence
	Turning Point
	Turning Point Women's Centre Ltd.
	Twins and Multiple Births Association
	Winston's Wishfor bereaved children
	YMCA England
	Yorkshire Band of Hope Union (YBHU)
	Young Minds
	Youth Access
	YWCA Bristol Young Women's Centre
	YWCA England and Wales
	For 2005 to 2007, the Policy Research Bureau in association with the Tavistock Institute will receive 600,000 to conduct an evaluation of the Parenting Fund and the Fundholder model.

PGCE

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Post Graduate Certificate in Education places were provided for classics in this academic year; and how many she expects to be provided in the (a) 2006/07 and (b) 2007/08 academic years.

Jacqui Smith: 29 trainees were recruited onto secondary postgraduate classics initial teacher training courses in 2005/06. The number of classics places allocated to providers for 2006/07 is 29 and for 2007/08 27.

Pupil Funding

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) mean, (b) median and (c) mode annual funding per pupil is for each local education authority in 200506; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: The data for mean and median values for Dedicated Schools Grant per pupil across all local authorities are set out in the following table for 200607 and 200708. There is no modal value for DSG per pupil in either of those years, since each authority has a unique value of DSG per pupil.
	
		
		
			  200607 200708 
		
		
			 Mean DSG per pupil 3,642.98 3,888.20 
			 Median DSG per pupil 3,578.40 3,822.00

Pupil Funding

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total funding per pupil in (a) cash and (b) real terms is for each local education authority in England for 200506, calculated on the basis used for the figures provided to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire on 9 November 2004; what the figures are planned to be in (i) 200607 and (ii) 200708; and what the national average is for each year.

Jacqui Smith: Total funding per pupil for each local education authority in 200506 in cash terms is set out in Table 1. Real terms figures are only used when making comparisons between one year and another.
	The funding methodology for schools and other local authority services is changing from 200607, so the Department is working on developing a new series to show funding on the new basis.
	
		Table 1: Total funding per pupil aged 319, in cash terms, 200506
		
			   200506 () 
		
		
			 301 Barking and Dagenham 4,830 
			 302 Barnet 4,770 
			 370 Bamsley 4,200 
			 800 Bath and North East Somerset 3,930 
			 820 Bedfordshire 4,140 
			 303 Bexley 4,260 
			 330 Birmingham 4,750 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 4,610 
			 890 Blackpool 4,230 
			 350 Bolton 4,220 
			 837 Bournemouth 3,960 
			 867 Bracknell Forest 4,230 
			 380 Bradford 4,530 
			 304 Brent 5,440 
			 846 Brighton and Hove 4,330 
			 801 Bristol, City of 4,390 
			 305 Bromley 4,350 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 4,200 
			 351 Bury 4,030 
			 381 Calderdale 4,220 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 4,000 
			 202 Camden 6,280 
			 875 Cheshire 3,930 
			 908 Cornwall 4,060 
			 331 Coventry 4,390 
			 306 Croydon 4,610 
			 909 Cumbria 4,140 
			 841 Darlington 4,150 
			 831 Derby 4,230 
			 830 Derbyshire 3,930 
			 878 Devon 4,000 
			 371 Doncaster 4,330 
			 835 Dorset 3,940 
			 332 Dudley 3,990 
			 840 Durham 4,240 
			 307 Ealing 5,240 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 3,930 
			 845 East Sussex 4,210 
			 308 Enfield 4,800 
			 881 Essex 4,160 
			 390 Gateshead 4,340 
			 916 Gloucestershire 3,950 
			 203 Greenwich 5,820 
			 204 Hackney 6,650 
			 876 Halton 4,560 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 6,180 
			 850 Hampshire 3,920 
			 309 Haringey 5,580 
			 310 Harrow 4,650 
			 805 Hartlepool 4,430 
			 311 Havering 4,250 
			 884 Herefordshire 4,150 
			 919 Hertfordshire 4,110 
			 312 Hillingdon 4,650 
			 313 Hounslow 5,070 
			 921 Isle of Wight 4,310 
			 206 Islington 6,400 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 6,380 
			 886 Kent 4,190 
			 810 Kingston upon Hull, City of 4,450 
			 314 Kingston upon Thames 4,470 
			 382 Kirklees 4,250 
			 340 Knowsley 4,750 
			 208 Lambeth 6,410 
			 888 Lancashire 4,080 
			 383 Leeds 4,210 
			 856 Leicester 4,570 
			 855 Leicestershire 3,770 
			 209 Lewisham 6,020 
			 925 Lincolnshire 4,100 
			 341 Liverpool 4,760 
			 821 Luton 4,590 
			 352 Manchester 4,970 
			 887 Medway 4,100 
			 315 Merton 4,720 
			 806 Middlesbrough 4,780 
			 826 Milton Keynes 4,360 
			 391 Newcastle upon Tyne 4,550 
			 316 Newham 5,470 
			 926 Norfolk 4,090 
			 812 North East Lincolnshire 4,220 
			 813 North Lincolnshire 4,140 
			 802 North Somerset 3,970 
			 392 North Tyneside 4,150 
			 815 North Yorkshire 4,030 
			 928 Northamptonshire 4,000 
			 929 Northumberland 4,190 
			 892 Nottingham 4,830 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 3,920 
			 353 Oldham 4,420 
			 931 Oxfordshire 4,140 
			 874 Peterborough 4,420 
			 879 Plymouth 4,120 
			 836 Poole 3,860 
			 851 Portsmouth 4,260 
			 870 Reading 4,630 
			 317 Redbridge 4,500 
			 807 Redcar and Cleveland 4,330 
			 318 Richmond upon Thames 4,230 
			 354 Rochdale 4,500 
			 372 Rotherham 4,230 
			 857 Rutland 4,050 
			 355 Salford 4,490 
			 333 Sandwell 4,470 
			 343 Sefton 4,240 
			 373 Sheffield 4,250 
			 893 Shropshire 4,040 
			 871 Slough 4,980 
			 334 Solihull 3,880 
			 933 Somerset 3,950 
			 803 South Gloucestershire 3,830 
			 393 South Tyneside 4,440 
			 852 Southampton 4,400 
			 882 Southend-on-Sea 4,290 
			 210 Southwark 6,190 
			 342 St. Helens 4,270 
			 860 Staffordshire 3,850 
			 356 Stockport 3,850 
			 808 Stockton-on-Tees 4,250 
			 861 Stoke-on-Trent 4,400 
			 935 Suffolk 3,940 
			 394 Sunderland 4,330 
			 936 Surrey 4,130 
			 319 Sutton 4,430 
			 866 Swindon 3,970 
			 357 Tameside 4,130 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 4,120 
			 883 Thurrock 4,360 
			 880 Torbay 4,040 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 6,740 
			 358 Trafford 4,000 
			 384 Wakefield 4,100 
			 335 Walsall 4,280 
			 320 Waltham Forest 5,120 
			 212 Wandsworth 5,710 
			 877 Warrington 3,810 
			 937 Warwickshire 3,970 
			 869 West Berkshire 4,300 
			 938 West Sussex 4,030 
			 213 Westminster 6,040 
			 359 Wigan 4,030 
			 865 Wiltshire 3,980 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 4,330 
			 344 Wirral 4,310 
			 872 Wokingham 4,130 
			 336 Wolverhampton 4,500 
			 885 Worcestershire 3,880 
			 816 York 3,880 
			
			  England 4,310 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Price Base: Cash.
	2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks from the education formula spending (EFS) settlement and include the pensions transfer to EFS and the Learning and Skills Council.
	3. Total funding also includes ail revenue grants in DfES departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 319 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level.
	4. The pupil numbers used to convert  million figures to  per pupil are those underlying the EFS settlement calculations.
	5. Rounding: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	6. Status: 200506 figures are provisional as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited.

Respect Action Plan

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what additional funds will be made available to Kent local education authority to implement the Government's new Respect Action Plan to provide provision for those who are out of school.

Jacqui Smith: We are making additional funds totalling 16 million per year available to schools and local authorities from September 2007 for them to provide suitable full-time education to excluded pupils from the sixth day of their exclusion. We are developing a formula for allocating this to local authorities and will be consulting on this with key stakeholders during the course of this year. It will be for local authorities to decide how much to allocate to schools.

School Buildings

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the levels of capital expenditure on (a) new, (b) improvements to and (c) repairs to school buildings in England were in each year since 1997.

Jacqui Smith: The information is as follows.
	1. Capital allocations to local authorities and schools are higher than ever before. In 200506 they are 5.5 billion and they are planned to rise to 6.3 billion in 200708.
	2. Capital allocations made to local authorities and schools since 1997 are set out in the following table:
	
		
			   billion 
		
		
			 199798 0.5 
			 199697 0.6 
			 199798 1.3 
			 19992000 1.6 
			 200001 2.5 
			 200102 2.5 
			 200203 3.3 
			 200304 4.2 
			 200405 4.9 
			 200506 5.5 
		
	
	3. We expect local authorities and schools to take decisions on allocating funds between new buildings, improvements and repairs in accordance with local asset management plans. Accordingly, records of these categories of capital expenditures are not held centrally.

School Buildings

Paul Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support is provided to church schools within the state sector in England for (a) repairs and improvements to school buildings and (b) new school buildings and facilities.

Jacqui Smith: Church schoolsthose with a religious characterare funded in the same way as other maintained schools. Those that are Foundation or Voluntary Controlled receive funding for normal repairs and maintenance through their local authorities. They also receive capital funding through a combination of formulaic and targeted programmes. The latter includes Building Schools for the Future, our programme to renew or refurbish all secondary schools over a 15-year period. We will shortly be consulting on a programme of investment in primary schools. Those church schools that are Voluntary Aided are funded in a similar way except that they must usually contribute 10 per cent. towards the cost of capital work, and they receive their capital funding direct from the Department for Education and Skills. Local authorities are responsible for capital work to playing fields at Aided schools. Details of our programmes are published on our website at www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolscapital.
	Capital investment in buildings for all schools in the current spending review period is 5.5 billion in 200506, rising to 6.3 billion by 200708. It is not possible to say how much of this is allocated to schools with a religious character.

School Clubs

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many schools had (a) after school clubs and (b) breakfast clubs in each year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: Precise information is not available. However, my Department recently commissioned MORI to undertake a survey of study support (out of school hours learning) activities in England. This showed that 90 per cent. of primary schools and 98 per cent. of secondary schools offer some study support. Of those, 96 per cent. of primary schools and 97 per cent. of secondary schools provided after school activities, with breakfast clubs provided by 30 per cent. of primary and 49 per cent. of secondary. All local authorities receive funding from my Department to provide study support, as part of the School Development Grant.

School Finance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what measures are being taken to help schools who face financial problems due to unexpected falling rolls.

Jacqui Smith: With the introduction of a new funding methodology for schools from 200607, all local authorities will be required to use a single pupil count, based on numbers in January before the financial year, in the calculation of school budget shares. Using the single pupil count will be a significant contribution to improved certainty of funding and will offer protection to schools which suffer unexpected falling rolls during the year.
	Local authorities are currently able to include factors in their local funding formulae to provide additional funding where schools have a high turnover of pupils during the year; where they have higher than average salary costs; or where they have reductions in budget year on year beyond a threshold set by the authority. With the introduction of the new funding methodology from 200607, local authorities will still be able to retain such factors in their local funding formulae if they consider they are necessary.

School Performance

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools her Department classed as (a) low-attaining and (b) under-performing in its analyses of school performance in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

School Toilets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding is available to schools to (a) refurbish and (b) upgrade pupils' toilet facilities.

Jacqui Smith: Capital allocations are made by the Department to local authorities and direct to schools, and prioritisation on individual expenditure is determined locally in accordance with local Asset Management Plan. Accordingly, the Department maintains no central records of (a) refurbishment and (b) upgrading of pupils' toilet facilities.
	Capital allocations to local authorities and schools are higher than ever before. In 200506 they are 5.5 billion and they are planned to rise to 6.3 billion in 200708.

School Toilets

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she will take to ensure that adequate toilet facilities are provided for pupils in schools over the extended school day.

Beverley Hughes: The Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999 set out the requirements regarding washrooms in schools. The regulations do not specify what the distribution of washrooms should be, but facilities must be adequate for the ages, sex and numbers of pupils and any special requirements they may have. It is for schools and local authorities to plan services and facilities in schools over the extended school day. They will need to take into account in their planning that adequate toilet facilities must be provided for children attending extended services. We have committed 840million for extended schools from 200308, which schools and local authorities can use flexibly, including to support small capital projects.

Schools (Aylesbury Vale)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of the cost of additional (a) post-16 years and (b) special school provision in Aylesbury Vale arising from planned expansion of housing.

Jacqui Smith: No such estimates have been made by the Department. New provision for young people is planned locally. Our capital programmes are designed to support local responsiveness to meet the demands and needs of forecast population changes.
	Revenue funding for pre and post 16 provision depends on numbers of pupils in a local authority's schools: extra pupils from planned expansion of housing will therefore generate extra funding for the local authority.

School Admissions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on how many occasions the Admissions Adjudicator has ruled on complaints that schools should not be allowed to interview pupils and parents under the Admissions Code; and how many of these rulings have been successfully challenged by the schools concerned.

Jacqui Smith: Since 1999, there have been three objections to school's proposals to interview parents and/or pupils as part of their admissions process. One fell to the Schools Adjudicator to consider, while two fell within the Secretary of State's remit.
	Of these:
	One objection was upheld;
	One objection was upheld, but subsequently overturned at judicial review;
	One was not upheld.

Schools Provision

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 429W, whether the projections for children of secondary school age take into account the additional new houses that are being built under the Milton Keynes South Midlands Regional Strategy.

Jacqui Smith: Population projections are the responsibility of the Office for National Statistics.
	The mid-2003 based subnational population projections are based on assumptions about local fertility, mortality and migration levels derived from the five-year reference period 1999 to 2003. They are demographic trend-based projections and take no account of any future growth or development policies of an area.
	The effects of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Spatial strategy will be covered in future sets of projections when they are observed in the mid year estimates and historic migration estimates that are used to set the projection assumptions.

Schools White Paper

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the (a) workload and (b) time commitments for (i) governors and (ii) chairs of governing bodies of trustschools under the proposals in the Schools White Paper.

Jacqui Smith: On average, governors will spend 6 to 8 hours per month on governing body business and chairs of governors will spend at least twice as much time. We would expect a similar commitment in future Trust schools.

Science Graduates

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students graduated in the academic year 2004/05 in (a) pure chemistry, (b) pure physics, (c) electrical engineering, (d) mechanical engineering and (e) avionics; and how many graduated in each subject (i) five, (ii) 10 and (iii) 20 years ago.

Bill Rammell: The latest available information is given in the table. Data for 20 years ago is not available at this level of detail.
	
		First degree qualifiers from English HE institutions
		
			 Subject 1994/95 1999/2000 2004/05(91)(5508670092) 
		
		
			 Medicine and dentistry 4,190 4,570 5,855 
			 Subjects allied to medicine 8,515 13,300 20,295 
			 Biological sciences 9,590 14,680 21,900 
			 Veterinary sciences 300 390 505 
			 Agricultural and related sciences 1,380 1,790 1,795 
			 Physical sciences 11,215 10,840 10,185 
			 Of which:
			 Chemistry 3,395 2,835 2,260 
			 Physics 2,090 1,935 1,925 
			 Mathematical sciences 3,380 3,500 4,375 
			 Computing sciences 7,055 9,655 17,170 
			 Engineering and Technology 18,245 16,990 15,730 
			 of which:
			 Electrical Engineering (up to 2001/02) 815 795 n/a 
			 Electronic and Electrical Engineering (2002/03 onwards) n/a n/a 4,545 
			 Mechanical Engineering 2,815 2,945 2,650 
			 Aeronautical Engineering (up to 2001/ 02) 615 710 n/a 
			 Aerospace Engineering (2002/03 onwards) n/a n/a 1,050 
			 Architecture, building and planning 6,715 4,965 4,945 
			 Total non-science subjects 125,605 137,325 148,265 
			 Total all subjects 196,195 217,995 251,045 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable
	(91) In 2002/03 a new coding frame for subject of study was introduced, as was a new method of allocating students between subjects studied. As such, figures for 2002/03 onwards are not directly comparable to earlier years.
	2 Figures for 2004/05 include students qualifying from dormant modes of study. In 2004/05 there were just under 10,000 first degree students who qualified from dormant modes of study.
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest 5.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record

Secondary School Places

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils of secondary school age on 1 January 2006 were without a school place; and what estimate she has made of the average length of time for these pupils to be allocated a place.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authorities have responsibility for ensuring that there is a school place for every child in their area that needs one. They should ensure that the admission arrangements operating in their areas enable children to be admitted to school as quickly as possible.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what representations she has received on ring-fencing funding for special educational needs.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 January 2006
	We have received occasional representations, normally about the possibility of ring-fencing for particular purposes, e.g. specialist support and training.
	Under the New Relationship with Schools we are committed to giving greater freedom and flexibility in relation to how schools manage their own resources. Similarly, we are committed to minimising ring-fencing for local government to allow authorities greater freedom to manage their resources according to their assessment of needs and priorities.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of pupils permanently excluded from school had special educational needs in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 January 2006
	The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Maintained primary, secondary and all special schools(92)(5508670093): Number of permanent exclusions by special educational needs (SEN)2003/04 (estimates)(94)England
		
			  Permanent exclusions 
			  Number of exclusions Percentage of permanent exclusions(95) Percentage of school population(96) 
		
		
			 Pupils with statements of SEN 1,040 11 0.44 
			 Pupils without statements of SEN 8,840 89 0.12 
			 Of which:
			 SEN pupils without statements 5,240 53 0.46 
			 Pupils with no SEN 3,600 36 0.06 
			 All pupils(97) 9,880 100 0.13 
		
	
	(92) Includes middle schools as deemed.
	(93) Includes both maintained and non-maintained special schools.
	(94) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil-level data.
	(95) The number of permanent exclusions expressed as a percentage of the total number of permanent exclusions.
	(96) The number of excluded pupils by SEN stage expressed as a percentage of all pupils with the same SEN stage in primary, secondary and all special schools (excludes dually registered pupils) in January.
	(97) There was one permanent exclusion for which stage of SEN was not knownthis is included in total for 'all pupils' only.
	Note:
	Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	Source:
	Annual Schools' Census

Special Educational Needs

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent as a proportion of total budget by each local education authority in Greater London on special needs education in each of the last seven years.

Jacqui Smith: The available information is contained within the following table. Similar data are not available before 200001.
	
		
			 Local authority name 200001 200102 200203 200304 200405 200506 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 14 13 13 14 15 15 
			 Barnet 11 16 14 15 17 15 
			 Bexley 9 14 12 14 14 15 
			 Brent 16 14 15 15 15 15 
			 Bromley 17 17 16 16 17 23 
			 Camden 12 11 12 12 14 14 
			 City of London 12 11 12 14 15 14 
			 Croydon 15 13 10 11 11 12 
			 Ealing 18 17 16 16 18 17 
			 Enfield 12 12 11 16 15 14 
			 Greenwich 15 15 13 14 15 14 
			 Hackney 16 15 13 14 15 15 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 18 17 17 16 20 19 
			 Haringey 11 10 11 13 13 16 
			 Harrow 10 6 11 11 12 12 
			 Havering 18 17 16 17 17 17 
			 Hillingdon 13 14 14 16 15 14 
			 Hounslow 12 13 12 12 14 13 
			 Islington 13 12 11 15 13 15 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 13 13 12 14 13 14 
			 Kingston upon Thames 15 14 14 13 14 13 
			 Lambeth 13 13 12 13 13 13 
			 Lewisham 12 13 15 15 17 16 
			 London 17 14 12 14 16 16 
			 Merton 9 9 8 8 8 8 
			 Newham 14 14 14 14 14 13 
			 Redbridge 13 13 13 15 14 15 
			 Richmond upon Thames 14 14 15 14 15 14 
			 Southwark 17 16 16 16 16 17 
			 Sutton 13 13 13 14 14 16 
			 Tower Hamlets 10 10 10 11 12 11 
			 Waltham Forest 11 14 12 14 15 14 
			 Wandsworth 14 14 15 15 16 16 
			 Westminster 12 12 14 12 13 14 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. 200001 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RA form collected by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to the section 52 form from the DfES. Therefore data are only available in a comparable format from 200001 onwards.
	2. The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN and, from 200405 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on section 52 for the first time and this accounts for 2.7 million and 3.3 million of the 200405 and 200506 London totals respectively. In 200506, local authorities in London also budgeted 90 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures are not available prior to 200506.
	3. Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.

Special Educational Needs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the cost was of funding places in non-maintained special schools in each local authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 17 January 2006
	The Department does not collect the information in the way it has been asked for. However, the following table gives a breakdown of the available data on local authorities planned expenditure for fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad in 200506:
	
		
			 Local authority Fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad () 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 2,200,000 
			 Barnet 6,488,050 
			 Barnsley 2,068,400 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 1,522,068 
			 Bedfordshire 2,439,142 
			 Bexley 4,195,000 
			 Birmingham 3,262,294 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 1,438,052 
			 Blackpool 1,861,449 
			 Bolton 1,615,671 
			 Bournemouth 1,988,497 
			 Bracknell Forest 1,916,560 
			 Bradford 2,564,282 
			 Bromley 5,702,080 
			 Buckinghamshire 10,148,634 
			 Bury 3,548,815 
			 Calderdale 1,984,169 
			 Cambridgeshire 4,562,648 
			 Camden 1,998,900 
			 Cheshire 7,761,860 
			 City of Bristol 1,926,644 
			 City of Kingston-Upon-Hull 844,496 
			 City of London 149,600 
			 Cornwall 3,723,260 
			 Coventry 4,005,550 
			 Croydon 8,080,557 
			 Cumbria 1,662,630 
			 Darlington 378,030 
			 Derby 1,966,498 
			 Derbyshire 4,471,603 
			 Devon 4,718,000 
			 Doncaster 1,533,030 
			 Dorset 6,838,200 
			 Dudley 1,530,300 
			 Durham 3,031,707 
			 Baling 3,738,100 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1,169,390 
			 East Sussex 7,037,870 
			 Enfield 3,742,978 
			 Essex 11,903,303 
			 Gateshead 2,553,323 
			 Gloucestershire 3,062,764 
			 Greenwich 2,661,430 
			 Hackney 2,485,503 
			 Halton 1,470,540 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 2,927,215 
			 Hampshire 9,039,000 
			 Haringey 4,086,599 
			 Harrow 3,653,600 
			 Hartlepool 174,482 
			 Havering 1,136,740 
			 Herefordshire 1,323,278 
			 Hertfordshire 10,295,538 
			 Hillingdon 4,229,210 
			 Hounslow 3,853,900 
			 Isle of Wight 1,835,177 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 
			 Islington 2,321,717 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2,219,536 
			 Kent 8,471,084 
			 Kingston upon Thames 3,211,700 
			 Kirklees 2,861,408 
			 Knowsley 754,439 
			 Lambeth 2,970,800 
			 Lancashire 15,897,000 
			 Leeds 2,727,980 
			 Leicester 2,249,505 
			 Leicestershire 4,822,907 
			 Lewisham 4,374,391 
			 Lincolnshire 6,000,130 
			 Liverpool 3,054,406 
			 Luton 1,982,180 
			 Manchester 10,496,812 
			 Medway 2,290,200 
			 Merton 3,833,440 
			 Middlesbrough 569,164 
			 Milton Keynes 2,231,232 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 1,982,070 
			 Newham 2,575,907 
			 Norfolk 4,053,427 
			 North East Lincolnshire 2,398,268 
			 North Lincolnshire 2,594,969 
			 North Somerset 1,382,509 
			 North Tyneside 1,605,132 
			 North Yorkshire 1,592,790 
			 Northamptonshire 3,037,690 
			 Northumberland 4,721,980 
			 Nottingham City 450,356 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,959,607 
			 Oldham 1,126,720 
			 Oxfordshire 4,586,219 
			 Peterborough 3,871,110 
			 Plymouth 1,614,565 
			 Poole 1,595,290 
			 Portsmouth 640,900 
			 Reading 1,288,062 
			 Redbridge 3,027,370 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 599,900 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,759,900 
			 Rochdale 1,563,144 
			 Rotherham 2,059,261 
			 Rutland 597,300 
			 Salford 3,285,399 
			 Sandwell 2,517,600 
			 Sefton 2,922,443 
			 Sheffield 2,264,476 
			 Shropshire 2,404,711 
			 Slough 2,110,620 
			 Solihull 1,076,320 
			 Somerset 4,383,910 
			 South Gloucestershire 1,616,000 
			 South Tyneside 913,777 
			 Southampton 974,600 
			 Southend 2,258,033 
			 Southwark 3,125,000 
			 St. Helens 1,474,338 
			 Staffordshire 4,329,920 
			 Stockport 3,339,073 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,045,348 
			 Stoke on Trent 2,013,340 
			 Suffolk 6,160,690 
			 Sunderland 1,135,501 
			 Surrey 18,880,553 
			 Sutton 4,313,033 
			 Swindon 1,721,702 
			 Tameside 939,400 
			 Telford and Wrekin 618,420 
			 Thurrock 1,575,115 
			 Torbay 704,989 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,690,447 
			 Trafford 3,276,291 
			 Wakefield 1,769,223 
			 Walsall 2,294,735 
			 Waltham Forest 3,820,764 
			 Wandsworth 4,088,224 
			 Warrington 1,371,122 
			 Warwickshire 5,454,361 
			 West Berkshire 1,919,588 
			 West Sussex 10,194,300 
			 Westminster 2,921,700 
			 Wigan 1,650,913 
			 Wiltshire 6,439,824 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2,916,590 
			 Wirral 3,643,300 
			 Wokingham 2,706,432 
			 Wolverhampton 794,000 
			 Worcestershire 2,070,784 
			 York 1,883,274 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad covers planned expenditure by the local authority on the payment of fees in respect of pupils with special educational needs at independent schools or non-maintained special schools. Consequently this covers budgeted cost to each local authority of sending children with special educational needs to independent or non-maintained special schools rather than the full cost to schools of educating these pupils.
	2. The data are drawn from the 200506 Section 52 Budget Statement (Table 1 line 1.2.7) which local authorities submitted to the DfES.
	3. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 13 January 2006.

Speech Therapy

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much has been spent on speech therapy services for children in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) Wakefield District and (c) Normanton constituency; and whether she has plans to increase the allocated resources.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	Primary care trusts (PCTs) are responsible for commissioning services, including speech therapy services for children, to meet the health needs of their local population. In the current financial year, PCTs in West Yorkshire received resource revenue allocations totalling 2.3 billion, with the two PCTs covering Wakefield receiving a total of 364.8 million. By 200708 the total resource allocation to PCTs in West Yorkshire will have increased to 3.0 billion, with the two Wakefield PCTs receiving 489.2 million.

State Schools

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of pupils of (a) primary school and (b) secondary school age in the Bristol local education authority area are educated within the state school system.

Jacqui Smith: The requested information is given in the following table.
	
		All schools: full-time equivalent number of pupils by age group(98)(5508670099). , as at January 2005, Bristol local education authority area
		
			  Pupils aged(98) 
			  Five to 10 11 to 15 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Maintained nursery 17 0.1 0 0.0 
			 Maintained primary 24,076 92.2 18 0.1 
			 Maintained secondary 0 0.0 15,107 72.6 
			 Maintained special 208 0.8 382 1.8 
			 Pupil referral units(100) 5 0.0 91 0.4 
			 Total maintained schools 24,306 93.1 15,597 74.9 
			 Independent 1,806 6.9 4,313 20.7 
			 City technology colleges and academies 0 0.0 906 4.4 
			 Non-maintained special n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total other school types 1,806 6.9 5,219 25.1 
			  
			 Total all schools 26,112 100.0 20,816 100.0 
		
	
	n/a = not applicable, no schools of this type.
	(98) Age as at 31 August 2004.
	(99) Excludes dually registered pupils.
	(100) Includes pupils with other providers.
	Source:
	Annual Schools Census

Sure Start

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  which (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector organisations delivered services in Mini Sure Start programmes in each year for which information is available;
	(2)  in which constituencies Mini Sure Start programmes are located;
	(3)  how many (a) children and (b) adults participated in Mini Sure Start programmes in each year for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many Mini Sure Start programmes were established in each year for which figures are available;
	(5)  what target she has set for expanding the number of Mini Sure Start programmes; and what progress has been made in meeting this target.

Beverley Hughes: 50 Mini Sure Start programmes were approved in 2002, four of these subsequently became Sure Start Local Programmes. There are no plans to develop further Mini Sure Start programmes. We expect all of the 46 remaining mini programmes to develop into children's centres and to contribute to our target of 3,500 children's centres across the country by 2010. The Department does not keep data on which private, voluntary and public sector organisations have delivered Mini Sure Start programmes or how many children and adults have participated in the programmes. However, each programme typically covers between 150 and 170 children under 4 in their catchment areas. We are unable to provide the information requested by constituency, but the following table provides a breakdown by local authority.
	
		
			 Local authority Number of mini programmes 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 1 
			 Cambridgeshire(101) 1 
			 Cheshire 1 
			 Cornwall 2 
			 Cumbria 3 
			 Derbyshire 2 
			 Devon 3 
			 Dorset 1 
			 Durham 2 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1 
			 Essex 1 
			 Gloucestershire 1 
			 Hampshire 1 
			 Herefordshire 1 
			 Hertfordshire 1 
			 Leicestershire 1 
			 Lincolnshire 2 
			 Norfolk(101) 3 
			 North Yorkshire 1 
			 Northamptonshire 1 
			 Northumberland 2 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 
			 Oxfordshire 1 
			 Shropshire 1 
			 Somerset 2 
			 Staffordshire 1 
			 Suffolk 2 
			 Surrey 1 
			 Warwickshire 1 
			 West Sussex 1 
			 Wiltshire 2 
			 Worcestershire 1 
		
	
	(101) The mini programmes in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk have combined to form one mini programmeThe Fen Border collaboration.

Sure Start

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many people work in the (a) Sure Start regional teams and (b) Sure Start Task Force.

Beverley Hughes: There are 104 full-time equivalent staff in the Sure Start and Children's Fund regional teams. Their role is to oversee and support the delivery of Sure Start and the Children's Fund by local authorities.
	There are currently 11 consultants in the Sure Start taskforce. They support particular local authorities with particular issues related to the delivery of Sure Start. They are engaged for a specific number of days a year and their contracts come to an end in March.

Teaching Literacy

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will ensure the National Framework for Teaching Literacy takes into account the report and recommendations of the National Inquiry into the Teaching of Reading commissioned by the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training.

Jacqui Smith: As part of the evidence for his independent review of early reading, Jim Rose is considering the findings of the National Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training. Along with other relevant source material, he will take the Inquiry's recommendations into account when he prepares his final report, and this will, in turn, feed into the Primary National Strategy's revision of the Framework for teaching literacy.

Truancy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the truancy levels were in schools in (a) the Ruislip-Northwood constituency, (b) the London borough of Hillingdon, (c) Greater London and (d) England in each year since 1995.

Jacqui Smith: The information requested on unauthorised 1 absence is shown as follows:
	
		Percentage of half days missed due to unauthorised(102) absence
		
			  1997/98 1998/99 1999/2000 2000/01 2001/02(103) 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05(104) 
		
		
			 Maintained Primary 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 
			 London Borough of Hillingdon 0.8 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.71 0.67 0.58 0.55 
			 Greater London   0.9 0.9 0.85 0.79 0.74 0.73 
			 England 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.45 0.43 0.41 0.43 
			  
			 Maintained Secondary 
			 Ruislip-Northwood 1.0 1.0 1.2 0.7 0.7 0.9 0.9 1.1 
			 London Borough of Hillingdon 1.4 1.4 1.4 1.1 1.49 1.63 1.43 1.61 
			 Greater London   1.4 1.5 1.45 1.34 1.30 1.38 
			 England 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.1 1.09 1.07 1.13 1.25 
		
	
	(102) Unauthorised absence includes other forms of absence such as lateness, holidays during term time not authorised by the school, absence where reason is not yet established and truancy. Truancy forms only one part of the unauthorised figures.
	(103) Regional and National figures from 2001/02 onwards are published to 2 decimal places.
	(104) 2004/05 figures are provisional.